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We’re excited to let you know that we’re giving away holiday albums in the US, available in the Windows Store for free!* The albums include holiday songs from Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Mary J. Blige, the classic album from Vince Guaraldi Trio, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and more. You can get all of these and more right now if you’re a Groove Music Pass subscriber – and if you aren’t, you can sign up here for a free 30-day trial and start listening today on your Windows 10 devices. Justin Bieber – Under The Mistletoe, Deluxe Edition https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/478b96232ad949d6f268be915407d6c9.jpg Justin Bieber’s 2011 holiday album is a mix of classic holiday favorites and new music, including “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” “Fa La La,” “Mistletoe” and more. Ariana Grande – Christmas Kisses https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/a6dfe107c92d165081c8b676d1335ee1.jpg Christmas Kisses is Ariana Grande’s first holiday album, an EP with traditional songs such as “Last Christmas” as well as new ones. Mary J. Blige – A Mary Christmas https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/52fcd98a41687bee95c6a6db30b716d4.jpg Don’t miss Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Mary J. Blige’s first-ever holiday album, A Mary Christmas, featuring her interpretations of the classics, including “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” “Do You Hear What I Hear” and “The First Noel.” The Jackson 5 – Ultimate Christmas Collection https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/7cbe8b05ae07e0313d54af12abcb0f66.jpg The Jackson 5 Ultimate Christmas Album is the family’s fourth studio album, including the hit single version of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”. Rod Stewart – Merry Christmas, Baby (Deluxe) https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/1246b0f9ae5910ece4eb98aa8540b7ab.jpg Merry Christmas, Baby is an easygoing and chipper collection of seasonal standards, including “Silent Night,” “We Three Kings” – a duet with Mary J. Blige – and “When You Wish Upon a Star.” Vince Guaraldi – A Charlie Brown Christmas, Remastered & Expanded Edition https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/2edb6ab0c8012effa1db0d90fd85634b.jpg Enjoy the newly remastered edition of one of the most popular holiday albums of all-time, created by pianist extraordinaire Vince Guaraldi and his trio for the original 1965 Christmas TV special. Boris Karloff – How The Grinch Stole Christmas: Original Soundtrack https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/2510ca557bdf05020e56031fb3a0a49f.jpg Enjoy the soundtrack to the 1966 Dr. Seuss animated classic, including “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and more! Various Artists – A Motown Christmas https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/0f925abddeffc48fd45fd09d940a18b5.jpg A Motown Christmas is an outstanding 12-track sampler of highlights from holiday efforts like the Jackson 5’s Christmas Album, Stevie Wonder’s Someday at Christmas, and Smokey Robinson & the Miracles’ The Season of Miracles. Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Dreams Of Fireflies (On A Christmas Night) https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/df8e0eec4688a4109c64c2d3c1d60cf2.jpg Dreams of Fireflies (On a Christmas Night) represents the first new collection of holiday music from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra since 2004. The five-song EP includes the songs “Winter Palace,” the theatrical praise-pop anthem “I Had a Memory,” and a pair of ballads: “Someday” and lullaby “Time You Should Be Sleeping.” Head over here to see the full collection of free albums, and happy holidays! *Available in US only until 11:59 p.m. PT, Dec. 2, 2016 or while supplies last. Only Groove Music Pass subscribers qualify for this offer. The post Get nine holiday albums for free from the Windows Store appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...

Hello Windows Insiders! Today we are excited to be releasing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14977 for Mobile to Windows Insiders in the Fast ring. We will not be releasing a PC build this week due to a blocking bug that could result in broken apps after updating to a new build. What’s new in Build 14977 Read EPUB books in Microsoft Edge on your phone: In addition to being able to read any unprotected e-book in the EPUB file format on your PC with Microsoft Edge – you can also read unprotected e-book in the EPUB file format with Microsoft Edge on your phone! When you open an unprotected e-book in Microsoft Edge, you will be taken into a customizable reading experience where you can change the font and text size and choose between 3 themes: light, sepia, and dark. As you read, you can leave bookmarks. To navigate through an e-book, you can use the table of contents or seek bar at the bottom of the browser. And you can also search for words or phrases and use Cortana to define specific words. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/ea34aaeae52c5f859d267d831c7df0a1.png You can download and read unprotected e-books from places like Feedbooks, Project Gutenberg, Free eBooks (requires sign-up), ePubBooks (requires sign-up), Open Library and even our own Microsoft Press. Try out reading an e-book in Microsoft Edge on your phone and let us know what you think! Other changes, improvements, and fixes for Mobile We’ve changed the rendering technology used for many types of UWP app content, so please provide feedback through the Feedback Hub if you notice any new visual glitches in UWP apps. Alarms sent by 3rd party alarm apps will now break through Cortana’s Quiet Hours – we appreciate all the app developers who logged feedback requesting this, keep it coming! We’ve removed the top-level option in Notification Settings to disable alarms on the lock screen – alarm reliability is a top priority for us, and we’ve found this setting was frequently enabled accidentally, without awareness that it would stop alarms from waking the phone when the phone was locked. For those who still wish to enable this setting, it’s will continue to be available under the per-app notification settings. Notifications from Settings can now be customized or disabled – option is available under Settings > System > Notifications > Settings We have enabled OAuth support for Yahoo Mail accounts. This will improve sync reliability for those accounts, and provide a secure experience while browsing your email. We fixed an issue where disconnecting and reconnecting a wired headset while watching a video might result the audio no longer working. We fixed an issue Insiders may have experienced where certain music apps would unexpectedly stop playing music after a single song. We fixed an issue where closing a tab in Microsoft Edge, exiting the app, and then relaunching it would sometimes result in Edge opening to a blank page with the closed tab’s web address in the URL bar. We fixed an issue where the Start Settings page wasn’t rendering when opened on external screen while using Continuum. We’ve made a number of translation improvements, including, for French (France and Canada) speakers, fixing a grammatical error in the “Don’t Forget!” text seen when shutting down the phone so it now says “N’oubliez pas”, and for Chinese speakers, fixing an issue where the option to clear the Chinese Input Method Editor’s input history was displaying in English rather than Chinese. If you see any other translations that aren’t as you’d expect, please log feedback – we’re listening! We fixed an issue where, if the setting to show notifications above lock had been turned off, booting the device and immediately checking the Action Center while the phone was locked could result in the Action Center not displaying any notifications after the phone had been unlocked. We fixed an issue Insiders may have experienced where the Camera app might not appear after using the hardware camera button while the screen was off or while on the Glance screen. We fixed an issue where Bangla (Bangladesh) keyboard text prediction might stop working after entering character followed by a vowel mark. Known issues for Mobile Please avoid attempting to install new languages, keyboards, and speech packs on your phone. There is a chance these downloads may get stuck and not finish downloading. If you have existing languages, keyboards, and speech packs installed – they will carry over when you update to new builds. You can use Windows Device Recovery Tool to go back to Windows Phone 8.1 or Windows 10 Mobile, install any languages, keyboards, and speech packs you need and then update to the latest build in the Fast ring as a workaround. Windows 10 phones with 8GB of internal storage such as the Lumia 550 will likely receive an 0x800700b7 error when attempting to update to this build. For more details, head over to this forum post. System related notification toasts (e.g. Bluetooth, USB/Autoplay, etc.) do not work. Team Updates Two months ago, the Windows Insider team partnered with Co-Creation Hub (CCHub) in Lagos, Nigeria to announce our very first #WINsiders4Good Fellowship. For this inaugural program, we selected from more than 5,000 applicants a cohort of 25 entrepreneurs with amazing ideas to make Nigeria an even better place. Over the next six months, we will work side-by-side with these Fellows to launch 25 viable businesses. We loved that everyone we met in Nigeria shared our mission of empowering EVERY person on the planet to achieve more and we knew that this amazing country was the place to do the “alpha” of our Fellowship program. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/1d404049c197e6b678d6144bb20a41ff.jpg We sought out applications for the Fellowship cohort from all over Nigeria. Each applicant was asked to think deeply about the issues confronting his or her community, the solutions that could address these issues, and the opportunities for the solution to thrive in the market and become a viable business. Within days, over 5,000 people applied, all of whom personified the Windows Insiders mission. We were thrilled. Together with CCHub, we narrowed these amazing applications to 25 finalists that really stood out in terms of impact, originality and feasibility. It was an incredibly difficult decision given how passionate and creative Nigerians are about making their country a better place! This past week, we were back to launch the Fellowship with a week-long boot-camp to kick start the 25 ideas, as well as start the process of providing ongoing tech and strategic mentorship for a period of six months and of course access to our global network of Microsoft employees, customers, partners and of course the other Windows Insiders. On the morning of November 14th, 25 strangers walked into CCHub HQ, each with a story, an idea, and pure enthusiasm to learn and build their business. Among them was Muhammad, a farmer for the rural north with an idea to recycle his neighbors’ trash into something useful for them, Idowu, a woman from Ogun who wanted to support small local businesses, and Bem, who wanted to make sure that the elderly people like his father who found themselves suddenly unemployed, were able to find work again. You can learn more about these amazing people and the businesses they are building here. These solutions are not only applicable in Nigeria, but to any country in the world. We were so proud to welcome these incredible people into the Windows Insiders family. Over the course of the next 5 days of the bootcamp week, we all focused on the customers of these 25 ideas through a series of exercises around strategic thinking, value prop development and prototype hacking. It was a mind-blowing week for us. We are humbled by the passion and creativity Nigerians show to make their country even more wonderful. Their endless optimism and positivity even as they tackle some of the hardest business model and technical challenges has been amazing to see. After the bootcamp week, the engagement with the Fellows has continue through a bi-weekly in-person/Skype sessions with both CCHub and our team at Microsoft. The communication channels the Fellows created has been buzzing with activity at all hours of the night and it’s been amazing to see the responses from all of YOU volunteering to help the Fellows with whatever they need. We will be having a mid-point demo day in Lagos in February to showcase the progress they have made. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/c070dcd3e3657888813c9df036585865.png One thing we’ve asked the Fellows to keep in mind is that they are not alone. They have the Microsoft team, the global Windows Insiders, their cohort of 25, CCHub’s local network and of course, our Microsoft network of customers, partners and distributors that they can tap into. 45 days ago, we fell in love with ideas on paper. Last week we fell in love with the humans who are in the process of transforming them into viable businesses. These Fellows are now part of a global community of people who use technology to make a lasting impact in the world. They had joined us, the community of millions who represent the billions – the Windows Insiders Program. We can’t wait to follow along on their journeys and we hope you will too. Thank you everyone and keep hustling, Dona <3 The post Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14977 for Mobile appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...

We are feeling rather nostalgic on the Minecraft team these days, because November marked just about the five-year anniversary of Minecraft: Pocket Edition. It was fall five years ago when the team first began rolling out Pocket Edition on Android and iOS – beginning with Xperia Play. Since then, Pocket Edition has expanded to run on Kindle devices, Fire TV, GearVR and Windows Phone. It’s grown to over 40 million players that can connect to each other and players on Oculus Rift and Windows 10 via online multiplayer and Realms. In just the past six months, we’ve ushered in redstone, witches, the Wither, Elder Guardians and pig riding. And Pocket Edition and the Windows 10 Edition are about to get the complete game loop with the upcoming 1.0 Ender Update. In fact, we’re ready to show it to you today, with this new trailer. To learn about all the awesome features coming to the 1.0 Ender Update – including a feature called the World Seed Library and support for Oculus Touch input – head over to Xbox Wire! The post Celebrating the past and future of Minecraft: Pocket Edition appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...

Today, HP announced their new affordable, durable and fully functional learning PC – the ProBook x360 11 Education Edition, powered by Windows 10. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/c7bfdb3db468b0d7a04663375c214d45.jpg As technology usage in the classroom increases, HP has approached the design and creation of this device with students and teachers in mind. In addition to great built-in features like a touchscreen that enables Windows Ink, this PC also comes with student-friendly features, including an optional active pen to make math, art, note-taking in OneNote or highlighting in Microsoft Edge easier than ever. For teachers, great features are built into Windows 10 such as the “Take a Test” app, which includes simple yet secure features for modern test-taking. The app creates a browser-based, locked-down environment for more secure, online assessments, for tests that shouldn’t have copy/paste privileges, access to files or other distractions. It also includes the “Set up School PCs” app, so a teacher can set up devices in three easy steps, even with no dedicated IT support. Click to view slideshow. For students, this device has an optional “explorer mode” dual camera system which uses a 1080p HD camera embedded on the keyboard deck to let students take video in tablet mode while viewing what they’re recording in real-time. This “explorer mode” makes project-based learning and content creation simple and fun. The device switches easily between four modes, and since students are constantly moving around with their computers, the ProBook x360 11 Education Edition is encased in hard, industrial rubber and its screens feature optional damage-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass. HP engineers put the computer through its rigorous HP Total Test Process, which involved dropping hundreds of computers from an elevation of 29.5 inches (about the same height as an average school desk). Together with Windows 10, this device is an awesome option for students and teachers. The HP ProBook x360 11 Education Edition will be available worldwide on Dec. 16. Head over to HP’s blog post to learn more! The post HP announces ProBook x360 11 Education Edition powered by Windows 10 appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...

Donovan Brown was a new technical seller at Microsoft struggling with a demo when he sent the email that changed his life. “I had completely hosed the VM [virtual machine] I was using,” Brown recalled. He sent a desperate, cold-call email to a technical evangelist for help, which led to an invite for Brown to demo on stage, which led to a meteoric career rise. Three years later, the once-unknown salesman has become one of Microsoft’s top presenters, with Brown now the senior program manager in charge of the company’s vision for DevOps, an approach to software development that incorporates Agile methodologies. DevOps calls for development and operations teams to step out of their traditional silos and collaborate in a system that emphasizes automation, testing, monitoring and continuous delivery. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/0a73e15445ae485986245eaa2959e2dc.jpg Senior DevOps Program Manager Donovan Brown speaks at Microsoft’s Build 2016 conference, wearing the signature uniform that earned him the nickname “The Man in the Black Shirt.” Many organizations are interested in DevOps for its potential to deliver products faster in evolving markets, but aren’t sure how to build a supply pipeline or adopt new ways of working. A longtime developer who is also passionate about car-racing and air hockey, Brown has risen as a leader at a critical time for the industry, demystifying DevOps for thousands of IT pros around the world. “DevOps is here. It is how you succeed. It is how you beat the competition. Why should you do DevOps? Because your competition already is,” Brown said recently in a demo for developers at Microsoft’s Ignite New Zealand conference. It was one of his many high-profile appearances in 2016, which included keynotes at Microsoft’s enormous Build and Ignite events. Along the way, Brown has become known for his quirky personal brand as a gifted public speaker who also has killer technical chops. His winking catchphrase, “I’m going to rub a little DevOps on it and make it better,” has spawned the memorable hashtag #RubDevOpsOnIt. He has become so recognized in dev circles that he’s now known as “The Man in the Black Shirt,” a reference to the polos he wears on stage. Read the full story. The post Talking DevOps, hardcore air hockey and more with Donovan Brown appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

We’ve showed you how Cortana* can help you search your PC and the web – today, we’re sharing three ways Cortana can help you during the holidays, from tracking flights and packages to remembering your shopping lists! Set a reminder https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/20c75e506a9b8e3ec0155405a60cda32.gif We’re all running around like crazy this holiday season, so let Cortana remember things for you. Simply ask her to remind you to pick up the tree trimmings on your way home or ship a package before it’s too late. Make lists to track gifts https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/08df7ec4ab2d5276fdd8586fa20ac6cf.gif Whether you’re planning gifts to buy, making a shopping list for a holiday meal or remembering what you need to do before leaving for vacation, you can easily use your voice or type to create a new list, add to an existing list and pull up your lists when you need them. Easily track your flights https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/6c89ecf243adb30a223f66bfe9199a6d.gif Cortana can track your flight for you and tell you if it’s delayed. Cortana can automatically do this for you once you’ve signed in based on your flight confirmations, or you can simply enter your flight number into the search box and Cortana will tell you its status. Have a great week! *Cortana available in select markets The post Windows 10 Tip: Three ways Cortana can help you this holiday appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...

Get the snow tires ready and pack your best parka, because Blizzard Mountain beckons! The Blizzard Mountain Expansion for Forza Horizon 3 is coming Dec. 13 and bringing with it a Forza first – snow, ice, extreme elevations and blizzards to challenge players in their quest to become the King of the Mountain. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/e65031aa2ee0676cb315582edb1322ef.png Become King of the Mountain This brand-new campaign challenges players to compete in a series of thrilling events with the ultimate goal of becoming the King of the Mountain. With more than 50 new events and challenges to compete in, the expansion tests drivers’ skills across extreme weather and brand new race types, including Hill Climb, Descent and Blizzard race events. In addition, players will be able to take part in new Bucket List Blueprint and Rivals events, as well as earn 28 new Xbox Live Achievements worth 500 Gamerscore points (head over to ForzaMotorsport.net for the full list of Achievements). Explore a New Alpine Playground Blizzard Mountain is a mountain paradise for car fans, full of adventurous terrain and challenging driving conditions. New areas like the extreme sports snow park and a massive frozen lake make this the ultimate snowy playground for players’ favorite vehicles. In addition, players will find bonus boards to smash, beauty spots to enjoy, and a brand new hidden Barn Find vehicle. Blizzard Mountain also introduces seven brand new vehicles to the game (plus the aforementioned Barn Find), including the incredible 2016 Ford GYMKHANA 9 Focus RS RX, the 2016 Nissan Titan Warrior Concept, classic rally cars and more. In addition, when exploring Blizzard Mountain, players will be able to choose snow tire upgrades for any of the vehicles in Forza Horizon 3 to prepare them to take on a wide range of thrilling driving surfaces. The Blizzard Mountain expansion for Forza Horizon 3 is available separately or as part of the Forza Horizon 3 Expansion Pass, which gives players discounted access to two expansions for $34.99. Ultimate Edition owners receive a $10 discount on the Forza Horizon 3 Expansion Pass if purchased before the end of 2016. If you haven’t yet taken Forza Horizon 3 for a spin, today is the last day of our Black Friday deals – check them out here. Head over to Xbox Wire to learn more! The post Prepare for a wintry Forza Horizon 3 adventure with Blizzard Mountain appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...

Windows 10 can help you make the most of your holidays in ways like creating to-do lists with Cortana* and making holiday shopping a little easier with Cortana and Microsoft Edge. Together with the latest Windows 10 devices, you can make the most out of the holidays in style. The latest Windows 10 devices from our partners are thinner, lighter and more beautiful than ever, with long battery life to power through your holidays on-the-go. New, higher-resolution screens and small-bezel OLED displays offer vibrant color, and 2-in-1 PCs add the flexibility to work on a laptop, draw on a tablet with Windows Ink or flip to the perfect angle to watch holiday movies – all with the same device. Budget-friendly devices ASUS Transformer Mini T102 – This 10.1-inch detachable 2-in-1 PC with a smart-hinge kickstand provides up to 170 degrees of flexibility. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/a712a815d3c62d045d7c0553d5b85ba9.jpg At 1.7 pounds, it’s loaded with powerful Windows 10 features, including Cortana and a built-in fingerprint reader for secured, password-free log in with Windows Hello. Plus, you can get creative with Windows Ink and Pen. This device starts at $299 USD. HP Stream 13 – This sleek laptop gives you the speed and power to stay entertained and productive. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/8ae6e93034fb38f7704eb160fb479526.jpg With Office 365 Personal included, you can use Windows 10 to kick-start your holidays, stay on top of work and enjoy the DTS Studio Sound for an immersive surround experience. This device starts at $279 USD. Premium Devices Lenovo Yoga 910 – This ultra-slick, eye-catching convertible 2-in-1 weighs in at just over three pounds. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/f5799b222a8876bd207fb35dbc45d92b.jpg At almost half an inch thin, it sports a 360-degree watchband hinge for use as a laptop, tablet or display, plus a nine-hour battery. The built-in fingerprint reader for secured, password-free log in with Windows Hello and touchscreen bring out the best in Windows 10. This device starts at $1,049 USD. Dell XPS 13 – The stunning, virtually borderless InfinityEdge display is great for viewing pictures and videos with friends and family or online shopping with Microsoft Edge. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/8850745bb864294752ac6a9cf06789f1.jpg Light, thin and fast, with a battery that lasts up to 22 hours, it’s one of the smallest 13-inch laptops on the market, but has big Windows 10 features like Microsoft Edge and Cortana. This device starts at $999 USD. HP Spectre x360 – Sleek and ultra-slim, this convertible PC offers beauty, flexibility and power. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/2388aa53012a9c19bba98591748ee4e4.jpg The 360-degree hinge lets you flip to the perfect view. Get creative with the Full HD touchscreen and enjoy blazing fast performance, while using all the features in Windows 10 for work and play. Get rid of passwords with the built-in Windows Hello face sign-in camera and browse the web with Microsoft Edge. This device starts at $1,149 USD. Let’s talk a little more about how Windows 10 devices can help you manage the holiday season with digital tools to stay secure, handle your to-do list and even enjoy a few moments for yourself. Keep your devices secure and your gifts under wraps With Windows Hello, you can sign into your Windows 10 devices* and apps** in less than 2 seconds – that’s 3 times faster1 than a password that you have to remember and type in. Windows Hello uses your face or fingerprint to recognize you instantly. When it’s time to do some online shopping, use the Microsoft Edge browser for a faster, safer browsing experience. If you share a computer, you can use InPrivate browsing, which doesn’t store cookies, history or temporary files from your browsing session. That means no accidental gift exposure. Stay productive through the holidays Want to make a quick list or get creative with your to-do list? Windows Ink and Pen give you the freedom of natural movement with a digital pen that is as easy to use as pen and paper. Use it with OneNote or a Sticky Note to jot down a few items and they’ll automatically turn into a checklist. Or markup webpages right in Microsoft Edge when you’re idea-shopping online — just circle the item you like, right on the web page, and save it or send it. You can even use Ink in the Windows 10 Maps app for trip planning. Never miss a beat or a festive moment Cortana, your personal digital assistant, can help you breeze through the holidays. You can type or talk to Cortana on your PC, tablet or phone. If you’re worried about getting to that holiday party on time, Cortana can check traffic and let you know when to leave. Cortana can even remind you to bring the eggnog (or help you find some at the nearest store). And when you’re up to your elbows in cookie dough, if you’ve activated “Hey Cortana” in your settings, you can say “Hey Cortana” from across the room, and ask how many ounces are in two teaspoons and Cortana can help you get that answer — no sticky fingers required. The holidays can be a hectic time for all, but they don’t have to be with the help of Microsoft and new beautiful Windows 10 devices. *Cortana available in select markets. * Windows Hello requires specialized hardware, including fingerprint reader, illuminated IR sensor or other biometric sensors and capable devices. ** Limited to compatible apps. 1Based on average time comparison between typing a password respectively detecting a face or fingerprint to authentication success. The post Kick off the holiday ‘to-do’ season with Windows 10 features and devices appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...

Save big on hit apps, games, movies & more with deals in the Windows Store Today, we’re excited to share all the awesome deals the Windows Store has for Black Friday! Available until Nov. 28, this collection* includes great deals on apps, games, music, movies and more for your Windows 10 PC or Xbox console. Keep reading for some of the top titles, check out the full collection, or head over here to learn more about all the great deals on Windows 10 devices and all things Xbox we mentioned in this week’s latest episode. GAMES Gears of War 4 – 40% off https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/d47feefb098fa8c9e2e17743229a4b63.png Beginning today through Nov. 28, purchase Gears of War 4 at 40% off and receive the entire Gears of War Collection for play on Xbox One. Get the game today and play the beginning of a new saga for one of the most acclaimed franchises in video game history. Buy Gears of War 4 from the Windows Store here and don’t forget when you purchase this title on your Windows 10 PC, you can also play on Xbox One with Xbox Play Anywhere! Forza Horizon 3: Standard Edition – 35% off https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/6b48424b75f192ca3fb0529d192b7e4d.png Beginning today through Nov. 28, purchase Forza Horizon 3: Standard Edition for 35% off. Get in the driver’s seat and explore Australia in over 350 of the world’s greatest cars. Customize everything, hire and fire your friends, and make your Horizon the ultimate celebration of cars, music, and freedom of the open road. Purchase Forza Horizon 3: Standard Edition from the Windows Store here. ReCore – 50% off starting Nov. 25 https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/3e02fb787203dd7a2153a527be8d0543.jpg Starting Nov. 25 through Nov. 28, purchase ReCore at 50% off! From acclaimed creator Keiji Inafune and the makers of the award-winning Metroid Prime franchise, ReCore is an original action-adventure game crafted for the modern generation. Be sure to check back and visit ReCore in the Windows Store on Nov. 25 for 50% off. Batman: The Telltale Series – Chapter 1 FREE https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/b67dc285464ab66135e92453b0db7326.png Beginning today through Nov. 28 get Chapter 1 of Batman: The Telltale Series for free (regularly $4.99). From the award-winning creators of The Walking Dead comes Batman: The Telltale Series, a gritty, violent journey into the fractured psyche of the Caped Crusader’s alter ego, Bruce Wayne. In this interactive, episodic game series, based on DC Comics’ iconic Batman, your actions and choices will determine the fate of our hero. APPS Exclusive 14-day free trial of Sling TV https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/acdd4cd0b2f65552802af8c8f26d2357.jpg Your Sling TV** exclusive is here! Get an extended 14-day free trial of Sling TV and start watching the best of live TV straight from Windows 10. Stream your favorite live shows and on-demand entertainment, including live college basketball and football, and your favorite shows from premium channels. Download the app today and get 14 days FREE of live TV, only on Windows 10. Buy the Polarr Photo Editor Pro app for $1.99 – on sale from $19.99 https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/91d246092f8c60b5e3f40d77a9cad4c5.png Polarr is a simple, powerful, and easy to use photo-editing app, it’s bundled with every feature you could imagine, from local adjustments and advanced cropping to curves and watermark tools. There’s even a collection of over 100 filters to play with. Adjust images with a single click and make your photos looks stunning, instantly. Get the app for only $1.99! Media Player Gold – Buy for $2.99 https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/9353d64547ecb88aa3d9678d86f6eba4.png Beginning today through Nov. 28, purchase Media Player Gold for $2.99 (regularly $18.99). Looking for one app to organize and play all your media files? Look no further. Media Player Gold lets you play different media files; search on SoundCloud and YouTube and add the results to a playlist; use LastFM scrobbling; set a sleep timer; and so much more. If you live for music and love video, you need Media Player Gold. MUSIC Groove Music Pass – 4-month extended free trial and more music deals https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/0a760a730f16a68635b090ab730644d4.jpg New to Groove? This week only, Nov. 22-29, eligible users can sign up for a Groove Music Pass 30-day free trial and get a token for 3 additional months free. That’s an incredible four months total, all for free. Get albums from today’s hottest artists along with millions of other songs – on-demand, with no ads, custom playlists, artist radio and more. Or, buy top albums including Justin Bieber’s album, Purpose, and The Weeknd’s album Beauty Behind the Madness for just $.99 each***. MOVIES https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/8dd643a9cf261861529be76c2226f023.jpg Don’t miss all the awesome deals on movies in the Windows Store starting Nov. 25***, including The Martian, a gripping tale of human strength and the will to survive, starring Matt Damon as an astronaut stranded on Mars. Or, get Deadpool – the story of a Special Forces operative-turned-mercenary Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) out for revenge. Both will be available to own and watch on your Windows 10 or Xbox device at their lowest price ever starting Nov. 25 (limited quantities available). The Black Friday collection in the Windows Store is live now and available until Nov. 28. Head over here to see everything! *Available in Australia, US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, UK, France, Germany and Italy **US only ***US, UK and Canada only The post This Week on Windows: Black Friday Edition appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...

Today marks an evolution in our ongoing partnership with Oculus, as Rift owners will be able to stream their Xbox One library to Rift with the new Xbox One Streaming to Oculus Rift app, available for free in the Oculus Store on Dec. 12. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/828445c80c1e88887f99841540491ec8.png The new Xbox One Streaming to Oculus Rift app connects to your Xbox One via your home network. Once connected, your console’s video output is streamed to your Rift headset and projected onto a massive screen in your choice of one of three immersive VR environments: “Citadel,” “Retreat” and “Dome.” Windows 10 is the best platform for playing games on Oculus Rift Rift works natively with Windows 10, which makes it easy to set up, jump in and have an incredible VR gaming experience. Combined with DirectX 12 technology that unlocks the full capabilities of new Windows 10 graphics hardware, made-for-VR games on Windows 10 will have the fastest frame rates and top performance. We’ve also teamed up with Oculus to offer an Xbox Wireless Controller included with every Rift. In addition, with the Xbox Wireless Adapter and new PCs with native Xbox Wireless support, you can play games on Rift using your controller wirelessly right out of the box. Head over to Xbox Wire to learn more! Continue reading...

Students using Windows 10 IoT and Lego Mindstorm create science experiments on board the International Space Station https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/6c46c9f6bebf232c2c3fbd2955f581a3.jpg Valley Christian Schools students and Quest Institute’s Danny Kim prepare for launch With the successful launch of Quest Institute’s first ever Windows 10 IoT based experiment platform onto the International Space Station (ISS) last month, the world of STEM has opened up allowing students—from Elementary to High School—to become true “rocket scientists” and participate in experiments aboard the International Space Station. The need for STEM education continues to grow as the field sees a shortfall of more than 3 million skilled workers in related fields by 2018. “It’s important to encourage STEM education starting at an early age, and space science is a phenomenal way to get kids excited about STEM fields,” said Steve Guggenheimer, corporate vice president and Microsoft’s chief evangelist. “We are proud to be part of this effort and that Windows 10 is the platform that is helping students reach new heights.” https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/88c2f1c1fb52ceca0a47f2b566346c30.png Students from Valley Christian Schools in San Jose California on stage with Steve Guggenheimer at Microsoft’s BUILD 2016 conference Over a year ago, Microsoft and Quest Institute started collaborating together to solve one of engineering’s most difficult problems with space: make a scalable science platform that can withstand the harshness of space. The joint initiative to create this “NextGen” ISS brought about new innovations through Windows 10 IoT to handle fault tolerance which culminated in the first flight of this new platform. Quest’s NextGen ISS experiment platform flew aboard the Antares OA5 Mission rocket on October 17th and astronauts aboard the ISS were able to successfully connect the experiment platform. The experiment will test the pliability of metals in space with the goal of better understanding how metals react in space. Students received their first set of live data from the ISS on last week, and are starting to interpret the results to discover how different metals react to catalysts in microgravity. Ultimately, the results will help better understand how to manipulate metals and debris on board the ISS. Windows 10 IoT made it possible to create a project that not only coordinates and manages multiple student experiments off of one platform, but also connects to servers on earth and is able to transfer data to and from the ISS. This has not only opened up space science experiments to students, but the scale of managing multiple experiments has made this type of program affordable and accessible to more students who are motivated by space science. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/c2c3c0c021f7ce7b0cd92b231f64755b.gif A look inside the NextGen ISS Platform experiment aboard the International Space Station We are so proud of the work these students have been able to do so far and cannot wait to see them continue to push the boundaries to expand our knowledge of the world as we know it today. For more information on how you can be involved in the program—from volunteering to signing up your local schools—please visit questforspace.com. You can follow along as the project progresses via @questforspace and #questforspace. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/db7c72b848387c5062ea309703af490a.png Continue reading...

Our team at Rockfish Games has been working together on space shooters for over ten years now, on everything from smartphones, tablets, PC and, most recently, consoles. Which is why we couldn’t be more excited about the launch of Everspace on Xbox One, our very first console game that supports Xbox Play Anywhere featuring cross-saves and the ability to buy once and play anywhere with Windows 10! https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/9289bd3e2d3e235e57456908e528b3e1.jpg Everspace is a Six Degrees of Freedom (6DoF) shooter featuring fast-paced space dogfights within dense level design at its core. You’ll have to survive in a hostile environment filled with natural hazards, as well as various enemies like outlaws, aliens, and a mysterious space armada trying to hunt you down. It’s not only about shooting enemies – evading enemy fire is paramount to survival as well. Get Eversapce from the Windows Store here, check out developer tips and strategies on playing Everspace over at Xbox Wire and head over to the Everspace forum to learn from veteran pilots who have clocked more than 100 hours in our game. Continue reading...

Cortana can help you save money with coupons https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/30434a10561ef0e8dce9d04e48cf25a0.gif Enabling Cortana on your Windows 10 device also enables Cortana to help you in Microsoft Edge. With Cortana in Microsoft Edge, Cortana can alert you with deals and coupons for the sites you’re shopping like Best Buy, Macy’s and Kohl’s so you can be assured you’re getting the best deal*! Cortana can help you search with images https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/8353e762cc267f14d988e1ca2d2b50b7.gif Whether you’re browsing for an image on Microsoft Edge or you see an image on your favorite website, Cortana can help you find similar images, details on price and where to buy what you see in the image. Simply right-click the image and select “Ask Cortana”. This is especially handy if something you wanted to purchase was sold out, or you want to purchase something you saw in an image search. Ask Cortana to remind you of sales when browsing in Microsoft Edge https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/dc94ae8971354a75974fbbe4817a2424.gif Say you want Cortana to remind you of an upcoming sale, or remind you to check back on your favorite website. Simply select the text on the page you’re browsing, click or touch the Share icon in the top-right corner of Microsoft Edge and select Cortana reminders, Cortana will instantly enable you to create a reminder. Save gift ideas for later with the Pinterest Save Button https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/032eecd5b4d9785c2fdc9cd776dd032d.gif Easily collect photos, recipes or gift ideas that you want to look at later to inspire your shopping list with the Pinterest Save Button extension in Microsoft Edge. Download the extension from the Windows Store for free here. Get updates on price changes with the Microsoft Personal Shopping Assistant https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/f2dcb7e569da490365f21f21bbd64c8c.gif The Microsoft Personal Shopping Assistant extension for Microsoft Edge will remember the products you browse online automatically, so you can easily come back to them later. You can also save “Favorite” items and get notified when prices change, compare products across sellers and share items you love with others. Download the extension from the Windows Store for free here. Find the best deals with Amazon Assistant https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/233f357e874cbc4cc2907b9c48a34e95.gif With the Amazon Assistant extension for Microsoft Edge you can compare prices, get notified about deals and create a universal shopping list across websites. Download the extension from the Windows Store for free here. Enjoy shopping with Cortana and Microsoft Edge, and happy holidays! *US-only Continue reading...

Did you know that with our latest update to the Photos app on Windows 10, we’ve made it easy to view all your memories, edit them with new filters and even draw on them? Here’s how to add ink to your photos: https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/b24be2ae1ddce5ebf4c7937227abeedf.gif Choose from one of three pen types, pick a color to draw with and use the eraser to fine-tune your work. You can use Windows Ink with your device’s pen, it’s also available to use with a mouse or touch if you enable the touch-writing option on the ink toolbar. You can even add ink to your animations or videos: https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/7587a3d8928b1bf2921650d1c84534bf.gif If you ink while the video is playing, your ink will playback in sync with the video. If you pause and write something, it will fade in and out. Even better, watch your message to come to life by sharing an animation of your drawing with friends and family as a video. Share it on Facebook, send over email, or even text it. Have a great week! Continue reading...

Mild spoilers for seasons 1-7 ahead, read at your own risk. It’s an exciting week for Gilmore Girls fans around the world as Netflix prepares to release four new installments of the heartwarming fan favorite. More than nine years since the network run of the show ended in 2007, we get the opportunity to catch up with Rory, Lorelai, Emily, Luke, Lane, all the whacky faces of Stars Hollow and, of course, the boyfriends. No matter what “team” you’re on, this promises to be one of the most exciting premiers of all time. Of course, you want to see Stars Hollow in all its Ultra HD* glory this time around – and today we are happy to announce 4K content from Netflix is now available exclusively for compatible PCs and 2-in-1 devices with Windows 10, including the new Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, premiering November 25th. Your binge-watching favorites on Netflix are now available in 4K exclusively on compatible PCs and 2-in-1 devices, on Windows 10. Check out the new streaming experience with Microsoft Edge, the only browser that supports Netflix 4K content. If you’re looking for a new Windows 10 device that supports 4K, head over to Microsoft Stores.** But wait, there’s more! What better way to prepare for this major moment than to re-watch all your old favorites? And since it’s Thanksgiving week for those of us in the US, you might have some downtime on a train, at Grandma’s house or in your childhood bedroom. Make sure you’re making the most of your binge watching experience by streaming your favorite episodes from Netflix on Microsoft Edge. Nothing is worse than your battery dying right at a pivotal moment – what if your screen went dark when Rory sees Jess before Sookie’s wedding? Or right as Logan was about to ask a very important question at Rory’s graduation party? Or, worst case, before you know Luke is “all in”? When streaming Netflix on Microsoft Edge you can get through at least one more full episode of Gilmore Girls than when streaming on Chrome on battery*** – and you know one episode can be the difference between Chris and Lorelai casually dating and being a married couple. And now, as I get ready to cozy in for a marathon binge session this week, I leave you with my top twelve must-watch episodes to get ready for Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. Copper boom! Season 1, Episode 2: The Lorelai’s First Day at Chilton Season 1, Episode 10: Forgiveness and Stuff Season 2, Episode 4: The Roadtrip to Harvard Season 2, Episode 22: I Can’t Get Started Season 3, Episode 7: They Shoot Gilmores, Don’t They? Season 3, Episode 22: Those Are Strings, Pinocchio Season 4, Episode 22: Raincoats and Recipes Season 5, Episode 7: You Jump, I Jump, Jack Season 5, Episode 22: A House is not A Home Season 6, Episode 7: Twenty-One is the Loneliest Number Season 6, Episode 13: Friday Night’s Alright for Fighting Season 7, Episode 22: Bon Voyage *Ultra HD availability subject to your Netflix subscription plan, Internet service, device capabilities, and content availability. netflix.com/TermsOfUse **To run Netflix in 4K on a PC device, it must have a 4K-capable screen and use a 7th Gen Intel® Core™ Processor. ***Battery life varies significantly with settings and other factors. Continue reading...

We hope you enjoyed this week’s episode of This Week on Windows! Read more about what’s new in the Windows Maps app and the new ways Cortana can help you with your to-do lists, or head over here to read our Windows 10 Tip on four ways to use Windows Ink in the Windows Maps app. Here’s what’s new in the Windows Store this week: 14-day free trial of Sling TV https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/acdd4cd0b2f65552802af8c8f26d2357.jpg Your Sling TV exclusive is here! Get an extended 14-day free trial of Sling TV and start watching the best of live TV straight from Windows 10. Stream your favorite live shows and on-demand entertainment, including live college basketball and football, and your favorite shows from premium channels. Download the app today and get 14 days FREE of live TV, only on Windows 10. Suicide Squad https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/08609097450e5e4020013bc5189c5b81.jpg In the hopes of averting the apocalypse, a secret government agency must recruit some of the world’s most dangerous criminals to form an elite task force. Do these supervillains have a shot at success? Or is it a suicide mission? Own the extended cut of Suicide Squad ($19.99), now in the Movies & TV section of the Windows Store. Batman: The Telltale Series https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/39243bda1010e0d8d08c987235acea46.jpg With Gotham City’s first family mired in corruption and an old friend now a dangerous adversary, the life of the Dark Knight is turned upside down in Episode 2 of Batman: The Telltale Series ($4.99/episode). What was Thomas Wayne entangled in, and why was he killed? Determined to learn the truth about his father, Bruce sets out to question those involved in Gotham’s criminal past. Teen Wolf Season 6 https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/8f132ad96cc22e2a31c267c50242d810.jpg As the final season of Teen Wolf begins, Scott and the pack are entering their last few months of high school. But when they lose their closest ally, Scott and Lydia will be forced to stand alone against one of the greatest threats they’ve ever faced. Don’t miss the season premiere of Teen Wolf ($34.99), available now in the Movies & TV section of the Windows Store. Have a great weekend! Continue reading...

This week at Microsoft was packed with big aspirations and big announcements. From data centers entirely powered by wind farms to AI partnerships with Elon Musk and the company’s ever-deeper involvement in open source (yes, you read that correctly), nothing was business as usual. And, as happens every November, much of the news came out of the main event: Connect(); 2016 developer conference in New York City. Welcome to this edition of Weekend Reading. Give us a few minutes of your time and we’ll get you up to speed on all of the excitement. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/4157a7fa8f746dfb4066dda3fc760764.png Connect(); 2016 kicked off on Wednesday with the announcement of a series of products and partnerships that strengthen the company’s Azure cloud platform. The goal is to make it easier for more developers to create intelligent apps and services with the power to transform business. Scott Guthrie, Microsoft Cloud and Enterprise executive vice president, detailed significant steps Microsoft is taking to give developers greater choice in the tools they use, including joining the Linux Foundation to better collaborate with the open source community, welcoming Google to the independent .NET Foundation and working with Samsung to enable .NET developers to build apps for more than 50 million Samsung devices worldwide. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/110c1a07f764d0a3b9ad699d4a15675f.png Microsoft announced a new partnership with OpenAI, a nonprofit artificial intelligence research organization co-founded by Elon Musk, Sam Altman and others. The OpenAI partnership is “focused on making significant contributions to advance the field of AI, while also furthering our mutual goal of using AI to tackle some of the world’s most challenging problems,” wrote Harry Shum, Microsoft AI and Research Group executive vice president. The company also introduced Azure Bot Service that will enable developers to accelerate the development of bots with the Microsoft Bot Framework and “easily deploy and manage them in a serverless environment on Azure,” said Shum. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/37661c2c77b37c2cf837a9f109537f33.jpg It is predicted that data centers will rank among the largest users of electrical power on the planet by the middle of the next decade. Currently, about 44 percent of Microsoft’s data centers are powered by wind, solar and hydropower sources. The company aims to up that number to 50 percent by 2018 and then 60 percent early in the next decade, with the ultimate goal of achieving 100 percent in future years. Microsoft took another step toward the 50percent goal with the acquisition of two new green power sources, the 59-megawatt Happy Jack and Silver Sage wind farms in Wyoming and a 178-megawatt wind project in neighboring Kansas. Reigning world chess champion Magnus Carlsen is known as “the Mozart of chess.” Like other top players, he has a global support team of experts who help him prepare and strategize. Microsoft supports Team Carlsen with secure communication and collaboration tools using Office 365 and other Microsoft technologies, in addition to providing extra computing power in Azure to help the team analyze large amounts of data. Vibeke Hansen, communications lead in Microsoft Norway, said Team Carlsen’s Azure access is “encrypted from end-to-end. Cloud services provides secure identification of both the people and the devices they use to gain access,” with team members securely using Skype, email and document sharing. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/92b577a07beb26d9ed41f8342829b401.png Can the supervillains of “Suicide Squad” prevent an apocalypse? Watch how the worst heroes ever try to save the world in the extended cut of the movie, now available for $19.99 in the Windows Store. Also check out “Jason Bourne.” Matt Damon is back in action in the latest installment of the hit Bourne franchise for $14.99. Find both blockbusters in the Movies & TV section of the Windows Store. Also, keep up with what’s hot, new and trending in the Windows Store on Twitter and Facebook. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/d293303df952ecef7d6fcd9a8d841190.png This week on Microsoft’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, we highlighted New York-based entrepreneur Ariela Suster who grew up in El Salvador during the country’s civil war. She wanted to help those affected by extreme violence, so she founded her handmade jewelry and accessories company, Sequence, in 2011. Using creativity, personal passion and Microsoft technology, she now employs at-risk youth to help break the cycle of long-standing violence in her home country. We hope you enjoyed this high-speed journey through all-things-Microsoft and hope to see you again next week. Thomas Kohnstamm Microsoft News Center Staff The post Microsoft joins the Linux Foundation, works to democratize AI and invests in clean energy data centers — Weekend Reading: Nov. 18 edition appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

Earlier today, we shared our latest workforce demographic numbers on our Global Diversity & Inclusion website. This update provides a snapshot of the gender and racial composition of Microsoft’s employee population as of September 30, 2016. I encourage anyone with an interest in diversity and inclusion — both at Microsoft as well as within the tech industry as a whole — to visit our website and familiarize themselves with our ongoing strategic commitments, initiatives and comprehensive demographics. Our current diversity demographics demonstrate that there is no easy path to achieving successful outcomes or systemic change. In summary, ours is a story of modest progress, as we deepen our commitment to advancing the diversity and inclusion agenda within the company. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/693b6cccdeb45bae0d349d20b74842c1.jpg Gwen Houston, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Microsoft Measuring progress through a “point in time” number sometimes only tells part of the story. Driving transformative culture change is about so much more than a set of numbers. On the upside, we are encouraged by some of the hiring trend lines we are seeing, but of course know there is much more we still need to do. We are enthused by the heightened commitment our leaders are demonstrating in embracing diversity in its many dimensions and, more importantly, modeling inclusive behaviors. This is crucial to the change we hope to see, because the more inclusive we are as a company, the more progress we will see in our diversity data. Women at Microsoft Beginning first with women at Microsoft, let me share my takeaways in terms of our results. Company-wide, the representation of women employed at Microsoft declined by 1 percent this past year, from 26.8 percent to 25.8 percent. When we look at this number in isolation, it certainly falls short of where we want to be. For some context, this decline was largely due to the business decision we shared last year to restructure our phone hardware business (Sharpening Our Focus), which resulted in the closure of some factories (which we refer to as “direct production”) outside the U.S. The workforce at these factories had a higher representation of women, so their closure impacted our total representation of women. If you dig beneath the surface, however, there is another story unfolding — one that we find more encouraging. Outside of direct production work, the percentage of women at Microsoft actually increased by 0.4 percentage points. What’s more, our representation of women in technical roles increased 0.6 percentage points, and our representation of women in leadership roles also increased by 0.6 percentage points. It is also important to look at our hiring trends, which provide a leading indicator of where we’re headed. This past year, women represented 27.7 percent of all new employees (almost 2 percent over our current representation), and 21.7 percent of all new employees in technical jobs, (more than 4 percent over our current representation). The takeaway: While we are disappointed in the overall decline in the representation of women at the company, we know why it happened. We are encouraged by the modest gains we’re seeing in female representation in technical and leadership roles, and even more significantly, by the hiring trends of the past year that resulted from our efforts to recruit top-notch female talent. Racial and ethnic minorities at Microsoft We saw very modest gains in the representation of African Americans/Black and Hispanic/Latino(a) employees at Microsoft. Total African American/Black representation increased by 0.2 percentage points (to 3.7 percent), and total Hispanic/Latino(a) representation by 0.1 percentage point (to 5.5 percent). Representation in technical roles increased for our African American/Black and Hispanic/Latino(a) populations by 0.1 percentage point for each group. Although these numbers suggest only slight gains, our hiring trends again give us some reason for optimism. Over the past year, for example, 6.6 percent of our new employees were African American/Black and 7 percent were Hispanic/Latino(a). For our technical jobs, 4 percent of our new employees were African American/Black and 4.5 percent were Hispanic/Latino(a). Hiring is only part of the equation when it comes to increasing representation, but again, it is an important leading indicator of the direction we are headed. University hiring Another metric we look at closely is the breakdown of new hires coming to Microsoft directly out of colleges and universities — the new “pipeline talent” coming into the company. This past year, 33.6 percent of employees who joined the company directly from college were women, 3.9 percent were African American/Black, and 5.9 percent were Hispanic/Latino(a). For technical roles, women comprised 30 percent of all university hires. We are also seeing a positive trajectory with our intern hires. Women comprised over 36 percent of all our interns, and in the U.S., racial and ethnic minorities constituted more than 56 percent of all interns we hired last year. We believe the gains we are making in this area are, in part, attributable to investments we have made over the years in programs like DigiGirlz, TEALS and Explore, as well as through partnerships with organizations like the National Center for Women in Information Technology on their Technolochicas and Aspirations in Computing programs. Equally important, we are expanding our talent sourcing opportunities for racial and ethnic minorities beyond engineering, to optimize for great talent company-wide. Board representation Our Board of Directors continues to be among the most diverse of any company in technology today, with three female members, and with women and ethnic minorities combined holding five of our 11 board positions. The road ahead Building a more diverse company the size of Microsoft is a journey that will have many milestones along the way, today being one of them. We are heartened by clear signs of progress we’re seeing with respect to women and minorities coming into the company, and will leverage these results to fuel our ongoing efforts. If anything, our data show that we are generally on the right path, but it will take committed, intentional, focused efforts in the future to stay on that path and increase our velocity. To that end, we are dedicating resources against a number of priorities and initiatives focused on retention, culture and pipeline expansion pivots. These targeted actions include: Creating and delivering compelling career development offerings for women and racial/ethnic minorities. Continuing mandatory internal trainings on inclusive hiring and awareness of unconscious and unintended bias. Tying senior leaders’ compensation to diversity gains in their respective organizations. Expanding the reach of our internal Dialogue Across Differences course (which many have called a “game changer”) to over 7,000 employees and to nearly 900 managers worldwide. Continuing to evolve the workplace culture to be more inclusive of all employees. Conducting recruiting campaigns designed to attract and retain more diverse talent. Increasing our investment in our Microsoft Software and Systems Academy program to attract more veterans into tech careers. Launching an Inclusive Hiring website to expand our hiring pipeline and attract diverse talent. Continuing investments in STEM programs to help fill the pipeline with the amazing potential and talents of diverse people. Launching an Inclusive Design initiative to create products and technology for diverse audiences: Xbox Gaming for Everyone, which focuses on designing for people with diverse needs and abilities. Engaging the entire organization in our diversity and inclusion efforts takes constant communication of the business case rationale, our strategy, initiatives and progress. But, it also takes visible leadership accountability for culture change and progress. We will always strive to do more and be better tomorrow than we are today. We have the opportunity to create enduring, long-lasting change that can impact more than just our own interests, but those of society as a whole. The challenge is real — so is the opportunity. The post Global Diversity & Inclusion update at Microsoft: Deepening our commitment appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

On the Maps team, we are always working to improve the maps experience and deliver more than a simple tool to get you where you need to go. We want to help you discover the world around you and deliver the best personal map and navigation experiences so you can get there your way. Natural interaction with Windows Ink We want it to be as easy and natural as possible to use the Maps experience, so that means including support for touch and ink, not just a mouse and keyboard. Our touch support lets you control the map with gestures such as pinch to zoom or tilting the map by dragging two fingers down, so you can see things in 3D. The interaction with the map becomes even more natural and more powerful thanks to Windows Ink. If you have a pen, you can ink at any time to draw or add annotations on the map. Just start writing to point out interesting places or call out details the very same way you might do with pen and paper. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/38ade50180c2ab01aeb3c30979e4155e.png But we wanted to make this even better than today’s pen and paper experience. Now, with Maps, you can you can easily measure the distance as you trace a route on the map with your pen. It’s great for when you need to know how long your jog, bike or even kayak route will be. If you need to draw perfectly straight lines on the map there’s now a ruler tool to make that fast and easy. Rotate it and adjust it however you want for the angle you need, and you’ve got a perfect straightedge. Finally, you can quickly calculate directions between two points by drawing a line between your start point and your destination. Now, the Maps app will automatically convert your drawn line into a real route and give you directions. Voila! No need to type or search for your destinations if you already know where they are on the map. You can even combine different ink modes to personalize your map and annotate your plans on top of it so you can reference everything in one place. If you don’t have a pen with your device, don’t worry. You can also use all the ink functionality with your mouse or finger, simply by toggling the touch writing option on the ink toolbar. Surface Dial integration https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/c0c5ea7e4ac7869104ec4107de962053.jpg The new Surface Dial brings even more ways to interact with the map and ink. The Surface Dial provides you another natural way to rotate, zoom or change the map perspective easily. You can even use the dial to take advantage of the ink toolbar or move the ruler on the map, making it more natural to interact and create using both hands. Surface Dial features are available with maps not only on the new Surface Studio, but also to anyone using an up-to-date Windows 10 device with the Surface Dial off screen. To try out these new features launch your Maps app now and check them out! We continue our commitment to build a great maps experience for all our users, and we hope you like where we’re headed. Your feedback has already influenced the product, and you can help us deliver the best experiences for millions of Windows 10 users. Please continue to share your feedback with us through Feedback Hub and tell us what you like, dislike or what you would like to see added. We are listening and we can’t wait to hear from you and see what you create on your maps. Continue reading...

Hello Windows Insiders! Today we are excited to be releasing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14971 for PC to Windows Insiders in the Fast ring. What’s new in Build 14971 Read EPUB books in Microsoft Edge: The reading experience will get even better with the Windows 10 Creators Update! In addition to providing a great reading experience for PDF files – you can now read any unprotected e-book in the EPUB file format with Microsoft Edge. When you open an unprotected e-book in Microsoft Edge, you will be taken into a customizable reading experience where you can change the font and text size and choose between 3 themes: light, sepia, and dark. As you read, you can leave bookmarks. To navigate through an e-book, you can use the table of contents or seek bar at the bottom of the browser. And you can also search for words or phrases and use Cortana to define specific words. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/3203fa0cc6a6d29e192a7ac31645bd43.png You can download and read unprotected e-books from places like Feedbooks, Project Gutenberg, Free eBooks (requires sign-up), ePubBooks (requires sign-up), Open Library and even our own Microsoft Press. Try out reading an e-book in Microsoft Edge and let us know what you think! Bringing 3D to Everyone via the Paint 3D Preview app: Starting with this build and going forward, the Paint 3D Preview app is now included as part of Windows 10. Opening Paint from Start will now take you to the Paint 3D Preview app. Please try it out and let us know what you think we should improve or add next! Currently, Paint 3D Preview is only available in English (aka, regardless of your display language, the text will be in English) – support for other languages will be coming soon. Remix 3D Preview, the community counterpart to Paint 3D Preview, is expanding to Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland for Windows Insiders today! Remix 3D Preview is currently only available in English but we will continue to expand our region and language support. You can check it out at Remix3D.com and from within the Paint 3D Preview app. PowerShell in the Shell: In an effort to bring the best command line experiences to the forefront for all power users, PowerShell is now the defacto command shell from File Explorer. It replaces Command Prompt (aka, “cmd.exe”) in the WIN + X menu, in File Explorer’s File menu, and in the context menu that appears when you shift-right-click the whitespace in File Explorer. Typing “cmd” (or “powershell”) in File Explorer’s address bar will remain a quick way to launch the command shell at that location. For those who prefer to use Command Prompt, you can opt out of the WIN + X change by opening Settings > Personalization > Taskbar, and turning “Replace Command Prompt with Windows PowerShell in the menu when I right-click the Start button or press Windows key+X” to “Off”. Fun fact! It’s PowerShell’s 10 year anniversary this week. Hop over to Channel 9 to see some of the videos we’ve been sharing about it. If you’re looking to learn more about unleashing the “power” in PowerShell, this page is a great resource. Improved Typing Experience with Japanese and Chinese Input Method Editors (IMEs): This build includes many improvements in this space – here are some of the highlights: Improved Chinese IME reliability. In particular, we fixed an issue where the IME might crash due to an incompletely downloaded or corrupted dictionary file Improved Conversion Accuracy for the Japanese IME. We also fixed various issues, in particular, when conversion was used mixed with prediction, and an UX issue when trying to change phrase segmentation. Improved resource usage when typing with the Japanese IME. In particular, we fixed an issue that could result in unexpected graphic glitches after using the IME for an extended period of time. Get Office (Beta): We’ve heard your feedback about the Get Office app, and today we’re happy to announce Get Office version 2.0 for Insiders in the Fast ring! (Well, technically, version 17.7614.2377.0). Whereas before Get Office was largely a collection of links to help you get started with Office, the new and improved app will help you explore and manage your Office experience. Easily discover and launch apps and see all your recent Office documents in one place! We still have the familiar help links, but we’ve redesigned the experience to make easier to find what you’re looking for. As you try out the new app, please log feedback – we’d love to hear your thoughts! https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/26196914168828aa82429cd8038db49d.jpg Other changes, improvements, and fixes for PC First introduced to Insiders in Build 14926, the experimental “Snooze” action on a tab in Microsoft Edge which provides you with a way to set a Cortana reminder on the website you are viewing is no longer available. Based on data we gathered and feedback we received, we decided to remove it from the product and re-evaluate the feature for a future release. The cursor will no longer be shown while inking – we believe this makes the experience feel even more like pen on paper. Try it out and let us know what you think! We’ve improved reliability when using the protractor and inking in Sketchpad. We’ve updated some of our desktop wizards (including “map a network drive” and “extract from zip”) to now be proportionally sized when moved across monitors. We fixed an issue where Magnifier’s keyboard shortcuts sometimes wouldn’t work on the Lock screen. We fixed an issue that could result in sometimes not being able to completely remove files in the Windows.old folder using Disk Cleanup. We have enabled OAuth support for Yahoo Mail accounts. This will improve sync reliability for those accounts, and provide a more secure experience in the Outlook Mail app. We fixed an issue where trying to shut down the PC while certain Device Manager dialog boxes were open would result in the PC being stuck at the “Restarting…” screen. We fixed an issue where, as closing multiple tabs with middle click in Microsoft Edge, the width of the tabs might change, resulting in potentially unexpectedly closing the wrong tab. We fixed an issue where the copy link option when right-clicking a hyperlink in Microsoft Edge wasn’t work. We fixed an issue where, if you changed the size of the Microsoft Edge window, and then closed the app by closing the final tab, the next time Microsoft Edge is launched it would once again be the default size, rather than retaining the preferred window size. We fixed an issue where pinned tabs in Microsoft Edge were not being restored. We’ve made a number of translation improvements, including for Chinese speakers fixing a translation error in the dialog that appears when installing multiple fonts at once, as well as one in Settings > System > Battery. If you see any other translations that aren’t as you’d expect, please log feedback – we’re listening! We fixed an issue where, if you already hand a notification expanded in the Action Center, clicking the chevron to expand a second notification would result in it expanding then immediately closing. We fixed an issue where preferred Start menu width might not be preserved after rebooting. Known issues for PC Navigating to Settings > System > Battery will crash the Settings app. Using keyboard monitor hotkeys to adjust brightness won’t work as expected. Desired brightness change could be done via the Action Center or by going to Settings > System > Display. Apps such as Store, Photos, and People may launch on their own after your PC has been inactive for a period of time. To stop these apps from launching on their own, un-maximize the app before closing it. As we have previously announced we are working on the Windows Holographic Shell that is going to be included in the upcoming Windows 10 Creators Update. In today’s flight you will see the Windows Holographic First Run app. While you will be able to launch the app and walk through the first few screens, it won’t detect any hardware. This app and the Windows Holographic Shell is still under active development here at Microsoft and with our partners. Team Updates Last week, the Windows Insiders team had several sessions as part of the MVP Summit as well as a #WindowsInsiders dinner. It was awesome to hear everyone’s passion for the future of Windows products! https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/9f617e427c576fbddc319f7e49a397c1.png We love seeing our Windows Insiders organize #WINsiders4Good events on their own! This is exactly why we created the DIY kit and we love seeing you all use it to build relationships and solve problems in your communities. There is an event happening on London on 12/15 hosted by Michael Gillett, so please register if you are able to attend. Please note that we will not be releasing any new builds next week. Next week is the Thanksgiving holiday here in the U.S. and much of the team is taking some well-deserved time off to celebrate the holiday with their families. Thank you everyone and keep hustling, Dona <3 Continue reading...

The Holiday season is coming, which means it’s list making season and Cortana has a new list skill* to help you out. With the new list skill, Cortana can now easily and conveniently help you manage your lists and keep track of the things you need to do so you don’t have to. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/fcb5302bbeaa4b4562bd6902173e23a8.gif Whether it’s planning a holiday meal, buying gifts, getting things done before you head out for vacation, or keeping track of who’s naughty or nice, you can use your voice or type to quickly create a new list, add to an existing list when inspiration strikes, and pull up your lists just when you need them on any device. Cortana will automatically start a Grocery, To Do and Shopping list for you so it’s easy to get started. The list skill will also be available through Cortana on your mobile phone**. For deeper lists functionality, Cortana can also work with Wunderlist, one of the most loved list-making apps, to give you even more ways to make lists and stay organized. You can connect Cortana to your Wunderlist account or set up a new account for greater functionality and access to the lists you already have if you’re a current Wunderlist user. Connecting to Wunderlist gives you the ability to add due dates to your To Dos and create shared lists from the Wunderlist app. Check it out for yourself by saying “Hey Cortana, create a Holiday list”. The list skill is just one of the ways that Cortana remembers, so you don’t have to. We’re always adding new Cortana skills so keep checking back at the Windows Blog for the latest. *Available in English in US only ** Cortana only available with Android 4.4 or later, iPhones with iOS 8.0 or later and Windows 10 in the US. Continue reading...

We are at an incredible moment in technology history. Thanks to cloud computing power, more advanced algorithms and the availability of massive amounts of data, the artificial intelligence (AI) field has exploded – allowing computer scientists to create technology many of us only dreamed about just a few years ago. Using deep learning, computers today can recognize the words in a conversation about as well as a person does and provide real-time translation. Thanks to advances in fields such as reinforcement learning, we are making tangible progress in the effort to build systems that have true artificial intelligence. At Microsoft, we believe everyone deserves to be able to take advantage of these breakthroughs, in both their work and personal lives. In short, we are committed to democratizing AI and making it accessible to everyone. It’s an ambition we share with OpenAI, a nonprofit AI research organization co-founded by Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Greg Brockman and Ilya Sutskever. Today, we’re excited to announce a new partnership with OpenAI focused on making significant contributions to advance the field of AI, while also furthering our mutual goal of using AI to tackle some of the world’s most challenging problems. We’re also excited that OpenAI chose Microsoft Azure as their primary cloud platform, to help advance their research and create new tools and technologies that are only possible with the cloud. OpenAI chose Microsoft due to our deep learning research and ongoing commitment to AI, along with Azure’s support for open source technologies and its unique combination of high performance computing, big data and intelligence capabilities such as Azure Batch, Azure Machine Learning and the Microsoft Cognitive Toolkit (formerly CNTK). OpenAI is an early adopter of Azure N-Series Virtual Machines, which will be generally available starting in December. These virtual machines are designed for the most intensive compute workloads, including deep learning, simulations, rendering and the training of neural networks. They also enable high-end visualization capabilities to allow for workstation and streaming scenarios by utilizing the NVIDIA GRID in Azure. In addition to OpenAI, other companies like Esri and Jellyfish Pictures are already using Azure N-Series. Esri is using N-Series GPU capabilities to power its mapping software, and the visual effects studio Jellyfish Pictures uses them to render photo-realistic visual effects and animations at large scale. As our customers’ computing needs continue to accelerate, we are working in close partnership with partners like NVIDIA to meet those needs. Yesterday we announced that the Microsoft Cognitive Toolkit has been optimized to run on Azure N-Series Virtual Machines powered by NVIDIA Tesla GPUs, and we are working together to deliver the next generation of hardware innovation, Pascal-based GPUs on Azure, in the near future. We also are introducing the Azure Bot Service, a first of its kind in the industry. With this new service, developers can accelerate the development of bots with the Microsoft Bot Framework and easily deploy and manage them in a serverless environment on Azure. Run on Azure Functions, these bots can scale on demand and you only pay for the resources your bots consume. Azure Functions, which is generally available today, can be used to maximize development agility and operational efficiency of nearly any app or service at lower cost. Our news today builds on other recent Azure releases designed to power AI advances. More than 50,000 developers are already building bots with the Microsoft Bot Framework, and companies such as Lowe’s, Uber, DutchCrafters and AllRecipes.com are using Cortana Intelligence and Azure to transform their businesses. We’ve made major strides in artificial intelligence just in the past five years, achieving milestones many people who have devoted their lives to the field wouldn’t have thought possible. Now, we have the opportunity to help our partners and customers use these breakthroughs to achieve their goals. To learn more about how to build intelligent apps, tune into Connect(); on Wednesday. The post Advancing our ambition to democratize artificial intelligence appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

We’ve showed you how to get started with the Windows Ink Workspace on your PC. Today, we’re talking about all the ways it can make trip-planning easier when you use it with the Windows Maps app. By drawing in the app, you can easily get directions, measure distances, leave notes and more. Draw a line between two points for instant directions https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/15a34919cbdbf5e02b8418274c1b01e8.gif Simply draw a line between your start point and destination, and the Maps app will quickly convert your ink into a route and give you directions. Markup and add notes to your map https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/34c999d5900114016cd40ffa0c3598bf.gif Personalize your map by adding details, marking places and annotating your plans, just like you would on a regular paper map. Trace a route and find distances https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/94b5790df83d65f621d7ad4623d2ca1b.gif With the measure tool, you can easily find out the distance of your run, bike or even kayak route. Just trace a route on the map and the app will calculate it for you. Use the ruler for perfectly straight lines on your map https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/2d56b43dd181a966f26de86dbc41da7a.gif Use the ruler to draw straight lines directly on the map to outline an area, or combine the ruler with the measure distance tool to get the distance between multiple points. You can also rotate and adjust it to the angle that you need. You can use Windows Ink with your device’s pen, but all the ink functionality is available with mouse or touch if you enable the touch-writing option on the ink toolbar. Have a great week! Continue reading...

https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/c3c8891dd9513c4671032d6c6a3538bb.jpg Gadget geeks, get ready. If you’re looking to upgrade your tech this holiday, there’s no better time to buy than Black Friday. Microsoft Store and other retailers across the country are offering some of the steepest discounts of the year on Microsoft’s hottest selling PCs and game consoles, so there’s something for everyone on your shopping list. Visit your local Microsoft Store, microsoftstore.com or any of our retail partners for more details on availability and pricing. Here are just a few of the great deals for shoppers next weekend: Upgrade to Surface and save up to $430 This Black Friday through Cyber Monday, Microsoft is offering an unprecedented deal of up to $430 off select* Surface devices and bundles between Nov. 24 – 28 at Microsoft Store and Best Buy locations. This includes at least $400 off the Surface Book i5 256GB, the ultimate laptop with a detachable screen, exclusively at Microsoft Store, microsoftstore.com and an exclusive Best Buy bundle with Surface Pro 4 128GB and the Signature Type Cover for $599. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/d391dd46e1058d27764eaeee0d2a62eb.jpg Lowest price ever on Xbox One S, starting at just $249! Between Nov. 24 – 28, shoppers can get $50 off any new Xbox One S bundle – its lowest price ever, starting at $249 Xbox One has been the best-selling gaming console in the U.S. for the past four months according to NPD Group, and between Nov. 24 – 28, shoppers can get $50 off any new Xbox One S bundle – its lowest price ever, starting at $249. For those looking to beat the Black Friday crowds, shoppers can also save $50 on any new 1TB Xbox One or Xbox One S bundle between Nov. 20 – 23 at Microsoft Store, microsoftstore.com and participating retailers nationwide. The sleeker, slimmer Xbox One S is the only console available this holiday with built-in 4K UHD Blu-ray so you can watch UHD Blu-ray movies and stream video in stunning 4K Ultra HD. It also enables High Dynamic Range (HDR) for gaming so you can experience richer, more luminous colors in games like Gears of War 4, which marks the beginning of a new saga for one of the most acclaimed videogame franchises in history, and Forza Horizon 3, the year’s best-selling and highest-rated racing game. And play with friends on Xbox Live, the fastest, most reliable gaming network with $10 off a 3-month or 6-month Xbox Live Gold subscription at participating retailers. Microsoft Studios’ biggest blockbuster games are also on sale, including $25 off Gears of War 4 and the entire Gears Xbox 360 Collection, and $20 off ReCore at Microsoft Store, microsoftstore.com and participating retailers. Starting Nov. 22, gamers can also enjoy deep discounts on digital games and entertainment purchased through the Xbox Store. Xbox Live Gold members enjoy early access to Black Friday digital deals on Nov. 18 along with exclusive savings. A full rundown of Xbox Black Friday details can be found on Xbox Wire. Start the year off right with a new Windows 10 PC https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/a6dd08a3a4b3fec60cabb7c7fd27b928.jpg The only way to experience the Windows 10 Creators Update next year is on Windows 10, so if you’re looking to ditch the brick to upgrade to a lighter, more powerful Windows 10 PC and save as much as $400, check out these great Black Friday deals. For all of the power of Windows 10 PCs below $500, Microsoft Store and microsoftstore.com will be offering Dell Inspiron PCs starting at $399 and the HP Notebook 15 for just $299. Best Buy is offering the HP X360 for $229 or Lenovo Ideapad for $400. Office Depot has HP laptops NT Ci3 for $269 and NT Ci5 for $329. You can get the ASUS Transformer Mini T102 for $299 from Amazon. You can get a $99 Inspiron 11 3000 from Dell. For all the bells and whistles, Costco members can save $300 on a Dell XPS 13 from Nov. 25-28 or $100 off the Acer Spin 5 Nov. 24-28. Best Buy is also offering $150 off the Lenovo Yoga 910 from Nov. 25-28 or a $200 instant rebate on the Samsung Galaxy TabPro S until Nov. 19. Elevate Your Style with Deals on Tech Accessories. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/356d28f5a5fb8b333b5d05a69b704fc6.jpg This Black Friday save on customized covers and devices that let you personalize a one-of-a kind gift sure to match any unique style. Enjoy free engraving Nov. 24 – 28 when you design your own custom controller with Xbox Design Lab. You can also save $10 on select Xbox Wireless Controllers and Xbox Stereo Headsets. Also, don’t miss the Complete Your Desktop deal, save $200 when you purchase a Surface Dock, Surface Mouse and Surface Keyboard from Nov. 24 – Dec. 24 at Microsoft Store, microsoftstore.com and online at BestBuy.com. Microsoft Store: Your one stop shop for everyone on your shopping list https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/51f9aad2ad62b951d67a855829d599ed.jpg Take advantage of Microsoft’s hottest Black Friday deals beginning online at microsoftstore.com on Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 9 p.m. PST, and available at participating Microsoft Stores on Thursday, Nov. 24 and in all Microsoft Stores on Black Friday. Shop these great savings on an assortment of best-in-class products, including Surface devices, Signature PCs and more, with exclusive offers including, Save $429 on Surface Pro 4 with a Type Cover. Save $50 on select Xbox One or Xbox One S bundles with a $25 gift card plus a free select game. Take advantage of great deals on Office with $20 off Office 365 Home and $30 off Office Home & Student. Buy an unlocked Lumia 950XL or unlocked 950 and receive a Microsoft Display Dock for free. Get hands-on with products and hear from our knowledgeable and friendly Microsoft Store associates for gift recommendations, or shop at microsoftstore.com for free shipping and extended holiday returns. And don’t forget to check out Microsoft’s newest devices announced at our October event, the stunning Surface Studio, Surface Dial and the now on-sale powerful Surface Book i7 with performance base. Happy shopping! *Valid in the US only at Microsoft retail and online stores, limit one per customer. Product: SP4 256GB i5 8GB + black type cover Bundle in MS Store only for $999 (save $429.99). Offer valid on select Surface Pro 4 i5 256GB and Surface Pro Type Cover (excludes NFL, Alcantara and Fingerprint Type Covers). Includes P4 i5 256GB, pen and Black Type Cover all in exclusive bundle. Product: Surface Book i5 256GB with GPU device. Regular $1899, promo price $1499. Product: Surface Pro 4 Core M Bundle for $599 at Best Buy only. Includes P4 Core M device, No Pen and Alcantara Cover all in exclusive bundle. Product: Surface Pro 4 i5 128GB for $799 across full Retail Channel. Product: Surface Book i5 128GB for $1249 across full Retail Channel. Not valid on prior orders or purchases; cannot be transferred or otherwise redeemed for cash or coupon code(s). May not be combinable with other offers. Refunds will take into account the discount. Price discount does not include taxes, shipping or other fees. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Microsoft reserves the right to modify or discontinue offers at any time. Other exclusions and limits may apply. Continue reading...

The Skype team is excited to bring a new feature to our Skype Preview for Windows 10 users, SMS relay. This feature allows Windows 10 Mobile users to send and receive SMS and MMS messages directly from a Windows 10 PC. You can view and respond to SMS and MMS messages from your PC, no need to reach for your phone. Making Skype the Default Messaging App To get started, you will need to make Skype the default messaging app. On a Windows phone, launch Skype Preview, go to settings and select “Make Skype your default messaging app.”; and on a Windows PC, launch Skype Preview, go to settings and select “Enable Skype on this device to sync my SMS messages.” You can always turn this off by going back to settings. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/dc56a4762775a4d6f026bfc3060aac34.png Create Conversation Once you’ve changed your settings, it’s easy to create a one-to-one SMS or group MMS chat. Just tap on the + button on the Recent list to start a new conversation. Add the people you want to chat with and Skype will select the type of conversation based on the participants’ contact information to ensure that everyone gets the message. If there are multiple ways to reach everyone, you will get an option to switch from Skype to SMS. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/70143158c8f8c556f47af33a524fdcd1.jpg Switch between Skype & SMS You can also switch a conversation from Skype to SMS and vice versa. You will need to have both the Skype name and phone numbers stored in a contact’s profile to do this. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/75782e57e81e9533632638b21ce2ac17.png In the 1:1 chat, you’ll see a line above the chat area which says “Via”. From here you can select Send Via Skype or SMS. If that contact has multiple numbers, you’ll see the first mobile number in this list. If you want to select a different number, click on the gear. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/b81709f061bc020a08c5b0580792b411.png And that’s all you need to do. To learn more about this latest update to Skype preview, check out the Skype garage blog. Continue reading...