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The wait is over! Today, we are excited to announce that Sling TV, the live and on-demand Internet streaming service is now available on Windows 10 PCs and tablets, allowing you to watch popular entertainment at home and on the go, all within a single free app and service starting at $20 per month. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/270d9b7abdf88f71248032e0d8098641.png What is Sling TV? Sling TV is an app for everyone who loves live and on-demand television, but hates the out-of-date cable model. With Sling TV there are no long-term contracts, no equipment rental fees, no hidden fees and no strong arm tactics. Sling TV offers today’s top entertainment on televisions, tablets, phones, computers, gaming consoles and other streaming devices at a simple and affordable price starting at $20 per month. With Sling TV, you can watch live and on-demand sports, lifestyle, family, news and information programming from top networks, including ESPN, Disney, AMC, Comedy Central, HGTV, TNT, TBS, Fox and NBC (select markets only), A&E, VICELAND and CNN. Sling TV customers can also customize their service by adding á la carte-like “Extras,” genre-based channel packages including Sports, Kids, Lifestyle, Comedy, Hollywood and more, starting $5 per month. New to Sling TV? Try it for seven days free! Restrictions apply, see sling.com for details. Sling TV on Windows 10 In addition to experiencing our new user interface, Windows 10 users will see other familiar, unique Windows 10 features in the Sling TV app: Live Tiles – Love “Game of Thrones” or “The Walking Dead”? You can easily see content updates from your selected “Favorites” and the “Continue Watching” ribbon when you pin Sling TV to your start menu. Cortana Voice Integration* – Quickly search for specific shows or channels by voice, using Cortana, Microsoft’s personal digital assistant. Try saying, “Watch ESPN on Sling,” and Cortana will pull up your content in the Sling TV app. Vertical Menu – Windows 10 users will feel right at home with the Sling TV vertical main menu. Responsive User Interface – Sling TV on Windows 10 was built using Microsoft’s Universal Windows Platform (UWP), so that your screen easily adapts to different sizes as you’re viewing content. Touch Compatibility – Sling TV works on both touch and non-touch Windows 10 devices. Current Sling TV customers can download the Sling TV app directly from the Windows Store, and new customers can sign up for a Sling TV account within the app when they download the Sling TV app for free on a Windows 10 PC or tablet. As always, we want to hear your feedback about Sling TV, so please send us a tweet @Sling, or check out our Sling TV blog for more information and to keep up with the latest news! *Cortana available in select markets. Continue reading...

Today, we’ve taken a significant step forward to empower businesses to achieve more with the first complete cloud offering delivered from a global provider within the U.K. Built to power their digital transformation, Microsoft Azure and Office 365 are now generally available from new datacenter regions. Each new region adheres to our Trusted Cloud principles, including security, privacy, compliance and transparency. These new Microsoft Cloud regions will help businesses in industries such as banking, government, public sector and healthcare meet their customers’ needs, the regulatory requirements they are held to, and the need for local data residency and replication for business continuity. A few of the customers moving to the Microsoft Cloud in the U.K. include the South London & Maudsley (SLAM) NHS Trust, the country’s largest mental health trust, and the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The MoD, which employs more than 230,000 people and currently spends over £3 billion on its infrastructure every year, will use Office 365 and Azure, citing both value and security as key reasons to use the Microsoft Cloud. Mike Stone, chief defence information officer at the Ministry of Defence, said: “Microsoft’s secure and transparent cloud service in the UK fits perfectly with the MOD’s digital transformation agenda. This agreement, which is based on Microsoft’s world-class reliability and performance, will allow us to deliver cost-effective, modern and flexible information capabilities. It will ensure we are better-placed in our ever-changing, digital-first world.” With the availability of our new U.K. regions, Azure now offers customers 28 regions — available today — with six more coming soon for a total of 34, more than any other major cloud provider. In addition, Microsoft Cloud services have earned the broadest set of compliance certifications and attestations of any public cloud provider. In the first half of 2017, Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online will join the currently available line up in the U.K. Learn more about customers using the Microsoft Cloud in the United Kingdom at the UK News Centre and learn more about the benefits of our cloud services at Microsoft Azure and Office 365. The post Microsoft Azure and Office 365 now available from United Kingdom datacenters appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

Last week, we gave you a tour around what’s new in the Windows Store with the Windows 10 Anniversary Update. Today, we’re going to show you how you can quickly and easily search your PC and the web all in one place. Your customizable taskbar is a great place to start any search! To search from your taskbar, simply click the Cortana* icon and type your query: https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/ceedf5237d8d1b9b1b043a201f477d23.gif For example, if you search “Xbox” you’ll see it brings up apps, apps related to Xbox, Xbox-related settings, and additional Xbox entries in the Windows Store. It also allows you to select a web search for Xbox, or search for the term “Xbox” within the folders and documents on your PC. Have a great week! *Cortana available in select markets. Continue reading...

We’ve reached an important milestone in the development of Forza Motorsport 6: Apex – as of today, we’re lifting the “beta” tag and releasing Apex as a full-fledged (and still free!) product on the Windows 10 Store. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/4348cd6b665b7784c7351c288af06b73.jpg We’re extremely excited to announce that today’s content update for Apex will bring wheel support to the Forza Motorsport series on Windows 10 for the first time. This is a major landmark for the Forza series on Windows 10 and has been the result of months of hard work from the Turn 10 and Windows teams. By adding wheel support to Forza Motorsport 6: Apex, we continue to work towards our goal of improving the Apex experience for players and making racing better on Windows 10. We recognize that today’s CU is just the beginning of that journey. As has been the case with Apex since the beginning, we welcome player feedback around the wheel implementation in the game. Let us know what you think at the Forza Motorsport 6: Apex Forums and head over to Xbox Wire to read more about today’s announcement! Continue reading...

It may have been the final days of August, but Microsoft was buzzing all week with interesting news and noteworthy stories. So before you take off for the summer’s last camping trip or get the kids ready for another school year, check out what happened at Microsoft this week. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/dbe06c34a7d1c23afb133c2857220ae5.jpg Middletown High School athletic trainer Craig Olejniczak, left, consults with a player wearing an i1Biometric Vector MouthGuard. (Photo by Kelly Guenther.) With football starting up again, i1Biometrics, a software company in Kirkland, Washington, has teamed up with Microsoft Azure to create smart mouthguards that help high school football coaches make safer decisions from the sidelines. Sensors in i1Biometrics’ Vector MouthGuards collect data on hits and tackles, and syncs it with a secure cloud environment powered by Microsoft Azure. The real-time data helps trainers and coaches decide on play changes and whether to take out a player to prevent future injuries. “The effects of concussions are cumulative – there really should be a history – so our feeling was that we should be tracking the exposure to athletes from the beginning of their careers. The reason we chose mouthguards is that they’re directly coupled to the skull, so we get a very accurate representation of what the head is experiencing,” said Ray Rhodes, one of i1Biometrics’ founders responsible for product development. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/72b57131254702c81e6395cd8e7aca1c.jpg Photo courtesy Didi Chuxing In China, where traffic is notoriously bad, Microsoft Office 365 is helping to ease transportation woes with China’s largest ride-hailing service, Didi Chuxing. The companies have collaborated on an innovative new add-in for Outlook, in which users can easily arrange for business rides with a mouse click or tap on their Outlook email screen. “Office 365 is the leading and open platform supported by all the mainstream operating systems and devices, and the add-in is easy to integrate,” said Derek Du, vice president of Didi Chuxing and general manager of DiDi Enterprise. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/61a0ad01bd7e2755355016b5790e6c3a.jpeg Steven Goulet, Azure Media Services principal program manager, helps NBC Olympics deliver the Rio Olympics to the U.S. New Olympics record: This week, NBC Sports Group announced that its streaming of the Rio 2016 Summer Games reached a record 3.3 billion total minutes, setting a “new standard for event coverage.” NBC Olympics used Microsoft Azure as part of its streaming coverage, two years after it used the cloud service for streaming the Sochi 2014 Winter Games. “Rio 2016 shattered streaming records in the sports category, with over 3 billion minutes streamed,” said Eric Black, CTO, digital, NBC Sports Group. “More than one-third of those who streamed the Games did so from connected TV devices. Our partnership with Microsoft Azure helped us extend our reach to more people and more devices via cloud streaming than ever before.” http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/4a63b76d8c278816e4060c9a5a475cdb.jpg The new HP Pavilion Wave Over in Windows 10 hardware, there was a lot of shiny new things to ogle this week as computer manufacturers gathered in Berlin to introduce new models at IFA 2016, the world’s leading trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances. HP announced its new Pavilion Wave and Elite Slice. Lenovo showed off a sleek Yoga 910 convertible laptop and Miix 510 detachable device. And Acer’s new lineup included the Predator 21 X laptop with a curved screen for gaming. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/d5e7e2b076c224aa1fd75f726b89c900.png The new mini game “Tumble” from “Minecraft” New “Minecraft” thrills: Everyone’s favorite blocky sandbox game launched a new mini game called “Tumble,” in which you use shovels and snowballs to make your opponents fall into hot lava, while avoiding volcanic doom yourself. “Minecraft” also offered a sneak peek at two new boss battles coming in this fall’s big update for “Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition” beta, “Pocket Edition” and the “Gear VR Edition.” You can look forward to new building blocks, a much-anticipated set of slash commands and battles with the powerful Wither and Elder Guardian bosses. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/88194435974f150334c3764f54af7507.jpg Katie Stone Perez’ daughter blew this bubble while her mom sat for a photo. And finally this week on the Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, we highlighted Katie Stone Perez, a senior program manager on the ID@Xbox team at Microsoft. She utilizes her deep passion for gaming and psychology to understand how the two influence each other. Her mission is to bring fresh thinking and new voices to the world of gaming, making it a more inclusive and diverse community. Thanks for reading and see you next week! The post Getting everyone in the game at Xbox, helping football coaches with smart mouthguards — Weekend Reading: Sept. 2 edition appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/06389a629ab2cb12e2f2252be0b46cce.jpeg Steven Goulet, Azure Media Services principal program manager, helping NBC Olympics to deliver the Rio Olympics to the U.S. Much like the athletes who competed in the Rio Olympics, our robust team of Microsoft Azure engineers have been hard at work preparing for the Games since the Sochi Winter Games came to a close in 2014, when NBC Olympics first selected Azure as the cloud-based live encoding, hosting and streaming platform for the Olympics. We’re grateful that NBC Olympics selected us again this year, building on our rich near-decade long partnership – not only do we get the opportunity to play a major role in NBC Olympics’ ability to bring the Games to millions across all devices, including connected TVs for the first time, we get to put Azure to the test – outdoing the scale and reach we’ve previously achieved for the largest sporting event on Earth. With the chapter now closed on Rio 2016, NBC Olympics is reporting that Rio 2016 established “a new standard for event coverage.” Eric Black, CTO, digital, NBC Sports Group, said, “Rio 2016 shattered streaming records in the sports category, with over 3 billion minutes streamed. More than one-third of those who streamed the Games did so from connected TV devices. Our partnership with Microsoft Azure helped us extend our reach to more people and more devices via cloud streaming than ever before.” Here is a snapshot from NBC Olympics’ press release highlighting just how streaming has created a new standard in reaching audiences and breaking records: Across NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app, there was a record 3.3 billion total streaming minutes (live + full event replays + highlights). Viewers live streamed 2.71 billion minutes of Olympic coverage – a new record for live event coverage. The 2.71 billion live minutes nearly doubles the combined live streamed minutes of ALL prior Games (1.48 billion). NBC Olympics digital coverage amassed 100 million unique users – 29 percent more than the 2012 London Olympics. More than 50 percent of viewers live streaming Olympic events on NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app were under 35 years old. Azure made this scale and reach possible. Our goal was to deliver more channels and content in real time across all devices in a high-definition, glitch-free livestream experience. We’re pleased to report we did just that – and with zero downtime in all 19 days of the event as Olympics history was made. Azure’s records for the Rio games include: A 1080p profile for all streamed channels (up from 720p during Sochi) as viewers expect a “TV-like” experience on any device. Over 4,500 hours of content made available. Over 50 simultaneous Olympics events – a 40 percent increase compared with the Sochi Winter Games. Over 100 live channels continuously available for the Games, nearly double the number of available channels for Sochi. Congrats to all the athletes who competed in the Rio Games – we’re glad we could serve with NBC to share your actions to the world! The post Rio 2016 Summer Games break streaming records; Azure is ready for Olympic-size livestream events appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

Katie Stone Perez brims over with excitement when talking about Xbox games. All Xbox games. Today the senior program manager for Microsoft’s independent developer program, ID@Xbox, is particularly enthused about “The Hole Story,” a new game about a budding young archaeologist named Wendy who digs in her backyard and discovers a portal to a strange land. The game, written and prototyped by a group of high school students, was selected from the Girls Make Games summer camp competition and will soon publish through ID@Xbox, which “enables qualified game developers of all sizes to unleash their creativity” though Xbox One and Windows 10. “Just a few years ago, it wouldn’t have been possible for high school students to publish a game like this to Xbox,” marveled Perez. Perez and ID@Xbox are working to create a truly democratic, equal opportunity platform where age, location and industry connections are no longer hurdles to publishing quality games. “There are seats at the table for everyone,” she said. “And gaming will only achieve its full potential if it has a true diversity of game content and a diversity of game creators.” For Perez, gaming is the ideal platform to influence youth to fortify these inclusive social norms for the future. Perez embodies a rare balance of corporate savvy and idealism. She radiates sunny optimism but is just as comfortable delivering cutting business insights or managing teams of engineers. “We’re starting to see more and more games that speak to different populations, to tell their stories and show their heroes,” she said. “And with so many kids spending their time in this medium, this is where we need to start if we want to create a more inclusive world.” Read the full story. The post How indie game creators are leveling up creativity at Xbox appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

Microsoft never stops. But we do rest. And as summer winds down, things have been a bit slower than usual while many of us enjoy vacations and recharge for the productive fall season ahead. This week we still managed to pick up a couple of neat Windows 10 tips like using Cortana to access certain apps without having to unlock your phone and using Continuum to connect your phone to a monitor. We announced a “Madden NFL 17” custom Xbox One S console sweepstakes, that PowerShell is now available on Linux and the first in a series of Microsoft-sponsored studies to raise awareness for “digital civility” around the globe. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/a7ea5463b49e68ea6adc18ac5a7fdb83.gif In order to use Cortana above your lock screen, start by saying “Hey Cortana,” and ask her what the weather will be like this week, to remind you to do something or to play your favorite songs. The GIF above visually takes you through the steps. And check out Cortana’s Tips and Tricks menu in your taskbar to learn more. Continuum for Phones, available on select Windows 10 Mobile devices, allows you to connect your phone to a monitor, projector or TV for a full-sized desktop experience, powered by your phone. Because Microsoft Edge is built on the Universal Windows Platform, Microsoft Edge in Continuum is able to provide a full desktop browser experience. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/e072cadb16f69796d71fb3548703e523.jpg To celebrate the launch of “Madden NFL 17” and the upcoming start of the NFL regular season on Sept. 8, we’re excited to announce the Xbox One S “Madden NFL 17” Custom Console Sweepstakes. We’ve designed 32 custom Xbox One S (1TB) consoles – one for each NFL team – and are giving fans a chance to win one. There are three ways to enter the sweepstakes: head to http://www.xboxpromotions.com/MaddenNFL17 and vote for your favorite console, click to enter through your Xbox 360 or Xbox One dashboard, or follow @Xbox and RT the Madden NFL 17#XboxSweepstakes Tweets. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/ba40665269e59209a450035e8165c366.jpg Wim Coekaerts, the CVP of Microsoft’s Enterprise Open Source reported from LinuxCon in Toronto sharing the latest news and learnings on the company’s open source journey. Microsoft announced that we’re open sourcing PowerShell and making it available on Linux. PowerShell users across Windows and Linux can use our popular command-line shell and scripting language to manage almost everything from almost anywhere. For more information read Microsoft Enterprise Cloud Group Technical Fellow Jeffrey Snover’s story about how customer-centricity brought Microsoft to open source PowerShell. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/2e849c01a1fd8e90bf72505ad466078a.jpg Results of a new Microsoft study show that nearly four in 10 American teens report that someone bullied them in the digital world in the last year. The study, “Keeping Up with Generation App,” is the first in a series sponsored by Microsoft and focused on raising awareness for “digital civility” across the globe. It was conducted by the Washington, D.C.-based National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), and polled 804 teens, ages 13 to 17 in the U.S., as well as 810 American parents of teens in the same age group. The results clearly point to the need to help young people in this environment. To learn more about online safety, visit our website and check out our resources. Thanks for sharing a bit of your summer with us. Keep your eyes open for upcoming Weekend Readings and we’ll have a lot of exciting news to share in the coming weeks. Thomas Kohnstamm Microsoft News Center Staff The post Gearing up for the football season, opening new doors with Linux — Weekend Reading: August 26 edition appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/e88e425318449e7e8f9ccab2f1f3cc9d.png I am pleased to announce that Microsoft has signed an agreement to acquire Genee, an artificial-intelligence-powered scheduling service. Co-founders Ben Cheung and Charles Lee, who plan to join Microsoft, started Genee in 2014 to simplify the time-consuming task of scheduling (and rescheduling) meetings. It’s especially useful for large groups and for when you don’t have access to someone’s calendar. Genee uses natural language processing and optimized decision-making algorithms so that interacting with a virtual assistant is just like interacting with a human one. For an example of how Genee works, let’s take a look at a common scheduling problem. Say you want to meet a potential customer, Diana, for coffee. Simply send an email to Diana and copy Genee, like you would a personal assistant. Genee understands that you want to “Find a time to meet with Diana for coffee next week” and will streamline the process by emailing her directly with appropriate options that work with your calendar and preferences. Genee will even send out the meeting invite on your behalf – freeing up your time. A coffee meeting scheduled in a snap! With today’s news, I’m excited to welcome the Genee team to Microsoft. As we continue to build new Office 365 productivity capabilities and services our customers value, I’m confident the Genee team will help us further our ambition to bring intelligence into every digital experience. Ben and Charles share their thoughts on the news here. The post Microsoft acquisition of Genee to accelerate intelligent experiences in Office 365 appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

Summer ended this week for some North American kids and teachers, but the week also marked the arrival of new technology to help ease those back-to-school blues – and what’s especially nice is it’s free. Office 365 Education, which is free for students and teachers, has a bunch of new features for the coming school year. Microsoft Classroom will help educators manage their administrative tasks so they have more time to spend with their pupils. Microsoft Forms helps with creating custom surveys, quizzes, questionnaires and registrations. OneNote will unleash a student’s inner Picasso with new rainbow ink colors, while setting the stage for a math revolution by recognizing equations that are drawn in ink and showing learners’ thought processes to help teachers plug any gaps in understanding. And kids can enjoy field trips from their desks as their classrooms connect with Antarctic penguins, Central American baby sloths, the Intrepid Space Shuttle and a thousand other amazing destinations around the world through Skype Virtual Adventures. And teachers, don’t worry – there’s training available to get you up and running quickly. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/8bbc9fc5a4b5b4828aa02ef60b2061df.jpg Next year, you’ll be able to use your personal computer to escape reality (like that whole back-to-school thing) when Microsoft releases an update to Windows 10 that will enable mainstream PCs to run the Windows Holographic shell. That will create “an entirely new experience for multi-tasking in mixed reality, blending 2D and 3D apps at the same time,” Terry Myerson, executive vice president of the Windows and Devices Group, announced Tuesday at the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco. Intel and Microsoft are collaborating on PCs and head-mounted displays that are ready for mixed reality, to build a broad range of devices for consumers and businesses. Stay tuned! If watching the Summer Games inspired you to get out and move your body this week, then here’s another motivational tale you’ll love: Climber Maddie Miller set a new record Sunday by finishing the 50 Peaks Challenge – climbing to the highest points in 50 states – in just 41 days, 16 hours and 10 minutes, far ahead of the 50-day goal. The journey of Miller and her mentor, renowned climber Melissa Arnot, was marked by storms, wildfire, exhaustion and above all, resolve, as they drove 19,000 miles across the country and hiked on snow, desert and scree in their race against time. They were helped along the way with Microsoft technologies, including Bing Maps, OneNote, OneDrive and Microsoft Band. Gamers’ eyes were on Cologne, Germany, this week for gamescom, the largest consumer gaming event in Europe. The event welcomed more than 800 exhibitors and 500,000 visitors from 50 countries. Microsoft announced two new Xbox One S bundles for FIFA fans in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the U.S., along with a great list of Xbox One games for Windows 10, including “ReCore,” “Forza Horizon 3,” “We Happy Few,” “Gears of War 4” and “Halo Wars 2.” For all the Xbox news from gamescom, visit Xbox Wire. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/67de5334df3e42acb01432401895ba0a.jpg Speaking of games and realities, new and veteran Crafters alike will be delighted to learn that they can experience Minecraft in a whole new way now through virtual reality on Oculus Rift devices. With the free update released this week for Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition Beta, fans can customize their VR experience and still retain their traditional Minecraft experience exactly as it was when they left the real world to enter the realm of VR Minecraft. Your adventures can continue in the hit episodic game “Minecraft: Story Mode,” which now has seven playable episodes available in the Windows Store. The latest features Jesse and his crew in a world controlled by PAMA – a sinister “thinking machine” determined to command everyone and everything in pursuit of optimal usefulness and efficiency. Once you’ve worked with a new ally to free the population enslaved by PAMA, head over to “Scalebound” to customize your dragon and learn how to work together with him in combat. And then really get ready for some hard-hitting competition by starting the football season early with “Madden NFL 17,” where you’ll get a chance to win two tickets to the Super Bowl. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/213adf3f08eb48ec9c7c7548a97c660d.jpg This week on the Microsoft Twitter page, we featured Steven Johnson, an author of books on innovation that have landed on The New York Times best-sellers list. Through a 10-part podcast series in partnership with Microsoft, Johnson explores the incorporation of play within work environments in order to boost productivity. “Play is a very profound predictor of future developments,” he says. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/5f504d0bd124aeb75b4159554a6568c4.jpg On that note, we highly recommend that you go spend your weekend making a toga to wear to work or school on Monday, or perhaps climbing as many peaks as you can to achieve your own personal record, and then check back here after your productive week for the latest edition of Weekend Reading. Posted by Susanna Ray Microsoft News Center Staff The post New back-to-school tech tools, Xbox at gamescom and turning playtime into profits — Weekend Reading: Aug. 19 edition appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

Microsoft is “All In” for Education. Today, we’re highlighting some exciting new features of Office 365 Education for the upcoming school year – Microsoft Classroom, School Data Sync, Microsoft Forms, OneNote ink and Learning Tools. And remember, Office 365 Education is free for students and teachers. Microsoft Classroom is your workflow wizard Every minute an educator spends on administrative tasks is a minute they aren’t able to spend time with their students. Microsoft Classroom is designed to be a single experience in Office 365 Education for managing all class and assignment workflows for teachers and students. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/3ea87b34bc9269bcaa4bd0dfda2ff706.png With Microsoft Classroom, teachers can use the Office documents and class materials they already have – or create new ones using familiar Office applications like Word, Excel and PowerPoint as well as exciting new applications OneNote Class Notebook and Sway. With this one-stop destination, educators get back precious instructional time so they can focus on what they’re truly passionate about – transforming the lives of students. Easily set up your class with School Data Sync School IT administrators have similar challenges. Keeping up with their connected campuses often takes time away from more strategic work. School Data Sync helps IT administrators connect existing school systems to Office 365 – enabling single sign on for teachers and students while automating Microsoft Classroom set up. IT administrators can get started with Microsoft Classroom and School Data Sync with Office 365 Education by going here. Microsoft Forms are anything but formulaic Developing assessments like quizzes and surveys takes time, and often involves a trip to the copy machine. With Microsoft Forms, now generally available worldwide in Office 365 Education, teachers and students can create custom surveys, quizzes, questionnaires, registrations and more. As educators move to more personalized teaching, Microsoft Forms is a powerful way for teachers to customize their lessons, leveraging individualized instruction and responses, question branching, and image support. Laura Stanner, a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, is already using the new features in her classroom. Read more about how these new tools are helping her here. OneNote ink unleashes your inner Picasso or Pythagoras Most technology in the classroom relies on keyboard inputs, but research has shown that digital ink can increase the quality of instruction, save teachers time and improve scores among students solving science or math problems. OneNote has supported digital ink (or handwriting with stylus, finger or mouse) for over 10 years on Windows PC. It’s also available on Mac, iOS, and Android devices. Today, we are announcing that OneNote ink now includes new features exclusive to Windows 10, like ink effects and ink math assistant, that not only support student creativity by letting students shade, sketch, draft, save and share ideas with their favorite rainbow colors (a student’s request), it recognizes math equations. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/bc925395d6fb3e71d83dc522f7d51738.gif This sets the stage for a revolution in math instruction, allowing students to show their thought process, and teachers to identify gaps in understanding. Check out the new ink page at OneNote.com/ink and learn more about the power of digital ink in this new era of computers, straight from students. Learning Tools support readers and writers of all levels Educators strive to support learners at all levels, and classrooms are often comprised of students with a wide range of capabilities. Learning Tools for OneNote, now available in many new languages, helps everyone improve their reading and writing skills, including gifted learners, students with learning differences or a combination of any of the broad range of unique student abilities. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/b640f407446582bb311cc4efdc999e35.gif We have seen overwhelmingly positive reactions from students, teachers and others from around the world. Many have shared stories of their students’ successes, such as dramatically increased reading speeds like those in Special Education teacher and Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert Lauren Pittman’s classroom. Explore Skype Virtual Adventures – this year with hundreds of new guest speakers and field trips The Skype in the Classroom community is free. Teachers and students can reach out to connect with more than a thousand amazing destinations – people and places all over the world. A simple Skype call connects students to collaborate with experts and each other through a live conversation from their classroom. Just a few of our new virtual adventures include Antarctic Penguins, Central American Baby Sloths, and the Intrepid Space Shuttle. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/11b9d98daaaf469f9d2329ef202356e0.jpg See the newest virtual field trips and guest speakers by visiting Skype in the Classroom. Windows 10 delivers better learning outcomes As educators head back to school, the Windows 10 Anniversary Update delivers new innovations that help complete the modern classroom. We were pleased to recently share new details about the faster, simpler set up that helps educators get up and running quickly, the Education Ready Windows Store and more. You can get ready for this school year with the new Windows 10 Anniversary Update training here. As we welcome all educators back to school – including our newly announced Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Experts and Showcase Schools around the world – I encourage them to try these Office 365 Education enhancements that can’t be found anywhere else and share them with their communities of practice. You can hear more about today’s product updates and their impact on both productivity and learning directly from our MIEs by checking out their blogs here: Math teachers’ summer collaboration with Office Online in Office 365 – By Cal Armstrong from Appleby College in Canada Individualizing instruction with the new Microsoft Forms – By Laura Stanner from Dubuque, Iowa. King’s Schools journey with Sway – By David Harcrow from King’s Schools in Shoreline, Washington Our mission is to empower every student on the planet to achieve more. With Microsoft Classroom, and student focused, teacher inspired Office 365 Education, we’re doing just that. The post Back to School with Microsoft: Student focused, teacher inspired innovation with Office 365 Education appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

An innovative idea that takes the tedium out of organizing facts, an entrepreneur who risked bankruptcy to help save the woman he loves, and a man’s difficult journey to a career at Microsoft — it’s been a week of inspiring news around Microsoft. We’ve rounded up the highlights for this latest edition of Weekend Reading. On Tuesday, a team of Microsoft employees was crowned grand prize winner of this year’s //oneweek Hackathon for the solution they created to help writers, researchers and anyone else who needs facts quickly. Their Office plug-in, InstaFact, infers what facts you’re looking for, mines massive amounts of information to get them and then auto-completes them into your Word and Excel files. All it takes is a few clicks. The InstaFact team was among more than 1,560 teams that competed in the event, which had Microsoft employees around the world working to bring to life more than 3,800 projects through technology. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/28d923bb468de51e835a6f9282eed9dd.jpg New research from Microsoft aims to unlock the full value of encrypted data by using the cloud to perform secure data trades between multiple parties — all in a way that provides users full control over how much information the exchange reveals. “What we are trying to do is keep the data private and, at the same time, get the value out of it,” says Ran Gilad-Bachrach, a researcher in the Cryptography Research group within Microsoft’s research organization. He co-authored a paper released in June that describes the protocol for this system to securely exchange data. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/458053c979da9832729a163576ddba7d.jpg This past week we also learned about an entrepreneur who risked everything to save the love of his life from breast cancer. Jorge Cortell has now teamed up with the U.K.’s National Health Service and Microsoft to make his inventions available to the doctors who need them most. Cortell created several programs and used Microsoft Azure to allow doctors to easily share images of tumors in the human body, check patients’ medical history and see which medications will work. Read more of his story on Microsoft News Centre UK. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/0427696b47b77d19732a11b83b498552.jpg The Microsoft JobsBlog featured Ed Sproull, whose stubborn optimism got him through some very dark times — including losing his left leg in a motorcycle accident and a stint in prison — and helped lead him to his career now as an engineer at Microsoft. The JobsBlog also shared the story of Lauren Tran, who unexpectedly found her dream job as a Microsoft tech evangelist at the annual Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing and has since developed a range of new skills and the confidence she needed to embark on a promising career. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/695af69362d43c0f08dad778231bb11d.jpg Also this week, the Microsoft Facebook, Twitter and Instagram page introduced Patrick “Duffy” De Armas, a leading artist in the Pacific Northwest. From the hot-rod shop to the art gallery, De Armas infuses his love for American car culture into his personal art and work for the creative design studio he founded, Electric Coffin. Microsoft tools, including the Surface Pro 3, have empowered him along the way, helping him create art that engages people with beauty and wit. Read more of his story on Microsoft News Center. This week also brought fun news for gamers. Microsoft Studios and Remedy Entertainment announced Wednesday that they are bringing hit action game “Quantum Break” to even more Windows PC gamers on Sept. 14 with the retail release of “Quantum Break: Timeless Collector’s Edition” and the digital release of “Quantum Break” for Steam. This week’s edition of Forza Garage highlights three rugged vehicles for helping you navigate the Outback on “Forza Horizon 3,” along with many other awesome new rides you can choose. And it’s a great time to get your preorder in for “Gears of War 4,” which launches Oct. 11 worldwide, so you can score The Brothers to the End Elite Gear Pack and get your hands on three bonus characters and other cool stuff. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/a9bff12b77492a75a0c91b64a8d7984d.jpg You’re now caught up with the week’s news around Microsoft and beyond. Enjoy the weekend, and check back here every Friday for the latest edition of Weekend Reading. Posted by Tracy Ith Microsoft News Center Staff The post A hackathon winner crowned, an entrepreneur’s heartfelt motivation and some inspiring careers — Weekend Reading: Aug. 12 edition appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

Today, Team Xbox is proud to announce that Microsoft has signed an agreement to acquire Beam, an innovative and interactive livestreaming service that gives viewers the ability to watch and play along with their favorite game streamers in real-time. Based in Seattle, Beam has evolved game streaming from a passive, watch-and-chat experience into one with real-time participation by the viewer; directly into a streamer’s game play and live broadcast. Bringing Beam, their award-winning team and their inventive technology into the Xbox family supports our ongoing commitment to make Xbox Live more social and fun. Using “Minecraft” as one example, with Beam you don’t just watch your favorite streamer play, you play along with them. You can give them new challenges and make real-time choices that affect their gameplay, from tool selection to quests to movement; all through simple visual controls. In the highly anticipated “Sea of Thieves,” which is all about emergent adventures in a shared world, you can watch the drama play out between different crews from multiple player perspectives. One of the best parts about Beam is that interactivity is easy for streamers to enable and customize, and is designed to work with any game. We at Xbox are excited about this convergence between playing and watching, and want to provide gamers with the freedom and choice to have great multiplayer experiences across all of Beam’s platforms. This acquisition will help gamers enjoy the games they want, with the people they want, and on the devices they want. We know that Beam is part of a vibrant community of gamers and streamers and we plan to provide a great experience for all of our fans. As Beam’s CEO Matt Salsamendi says in his own blog post, Beam remains committed to its mission of empowering users and streamers across platforms and will now be better positioned to grow and give more back to the community. We look forward to sharing more about Beam and our vision for interactive game streaming in the future. And, if you haven’t tried Beam yet, I encourage you to do so. In the meantime, we look forward to the continued growth of the Beam service and community. The post Microsoft acquires Beam interactive livestreaming service appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

It’s the start of another glorious summer weekend with the added excitement of the 2016 Summer Games — and it all caps a week of big news around Microsoft. From a major Windows 10 update to a new Xbox One console, we’ve rounded up the highlights in this edition of Weekend Reading. The Windows 10 Anniversary Update began rolling out for customers around the globe on Tuesday. It’s packed with new features and innovations that bring Windows Ink and Cortana to life, including a faster, more accessible and more power-efficient Microsoft Edge browser, as well as advanced security features, new gaming experiences and more. How do you get this update? You may not have to do anything at all. Find out what you need to know on the Windows Blog, and check out the new video series “This Week on Windows” to learn about some of the new features and other highlights. If you’re thinking it’s a good time to upgrade your PC as well, you’ll want to take a peek at 10 money-saving deals that come just in time to celebrate the Windows 10 Anniversary Update. On Tuesday, the 2TB Xbox One S launch edition became available in select markets. Demand is high and quantities are limited for the sleek new console, which is $399 for the 2TB launch edition; 1TB and 500GB Xbox One S options will roll out for $299 in the coming weeks. The Xbox One S offers a great value as one of the top 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players on the market — which means watching your favorite movies in stunning 4K — and you can play more than 100 console exclusives, writes Will Tuttle, Xbox Wire editor in chief. Plus, Xbox One S is 40 percent smaller than the original Xbox One. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/e4eef9262e01a2d1e5484b4ee9819fe1.jpg As the 2016 Summer Games kick into high gear in Rio de Janeiro, you’ll find plenty of Microsoft tools to help you keep up with all the excitement: Head to the Windows Store for the free NBC Sports app and watch your favorite events on all your Windows 10 devices and Xbox One. Let Bing predict who will win and help you decide which events to watch. Check out Cortana’s Summer Games trivia, and manage your own viewing schedule with Outlook. Microsoft has also created Coletivo do Esporte, a crowdfunding effort dedicated to supporting pro athletes; it gives fans in Brazil and all around the world a way to donate, lend their support, leave messages of encouragement and make a meaningful difference to help underprivileged youth in Brazil. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/e51c5d4e8de57e677ade0b7bf6ecb98e.png On Wednesday, Microsoft’s vision for Conversations as a Platform (CaaP) made a big step toward reality. Hundreds of millions of Skype users will now have access to a series of new bots created by Microsoft and its partners. This new wave of bots focuses on travel and entertainment, and they’re available across each Skype client whether Windows, Mac, iOS, Android or the web. Helpful experiences like the Hipmunk Bot, a group bot, help you and your friends collaborate on tasks such as deciding where to dine or take a trip. The Skyscanner Bot lets you search for flights either individually or as part of a group, returning live prices and route options within Skype. And the StubHub Bot works on your behalf to find the perfect concert ticket. News of these releases “builds on a steady stream of momentum toward our CaaP vision,” writes Skype Corporate Vice President Gurdeep Pall on The Official Microsoft Blog. Also this week, the Microsoft Facebook and Twitter pages highlighted Ziad Sankari. He was 17 years old when his father died of a heart attack. That tragedy inspired him to found CardioDiagnostics, a pioneering medical technology company that specializes in developing cardiac-monitoring products and services for doctors and patients with the help of Microsoft Azure technologies. Sankari’s efforts have gained attention in the growing field of mobile cardiac telemetry, which is helping save lives and is part of the estimated $26 billion cardiac-monitoring and cardiac-rhythm-management devices market. Learn more about the Lebanese entrepreneur and his company on the Transform blog. If you’re planning on a relaxing weekend, this past week brought plenty of app and video news to keep you fully entertained. The free Starbucks app for Windows 10 Mobile is now available for customers in the U.S., U.K. and Canada, allowing customers to pay for their favorite coffee drink or treat with their Windows device at more than 7,500 Starbucks stores. The Study and play collection in the Windows Store can ease you into the idea of another school year with more than 100 apps, games and entertainment. You’ll find Earth 3D, with various maps and fascinating facts to help you make sense of the world around you, as well as Drawboard PDF, a useful tool for reading and annotating PDFs, and much more. Or settle in for “The Huntsman: Winter’s War,” which won’t be out on Blu-ray or DVD for three weeks but is available now in the Windows Store, and be sure to pre-order the sixth season of “Game of Thrones.” http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/1366ec5e1ce56d161e4cc2a91b6c1be5.jpg You’re now caught up on the latest and greatest news around Microsoft. Kick back and enjoy a relaxing weekend, and check back here next week for the latest edition of Weekend Reading. Posted by Tracy Ith Microsoft News Center Staff The post The Windows 10 Anniversary Update, a slim new Xbox console and Summer Games fun — Weekend Reading: Aug. 5 edition appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

We hope you enjoyed this week’s episode of This Week on Windows! Take the tour of everything new in the Windows Store with the Windows 10 Anniversary Update in our Windows 10 Tips blog post, head over here to see all the Windows 10 devices announced at IFA, and keep reading for a great offer from Best Buy and everything new in the Windows Store this week! Save $150 on Lenovo Yoga 900 at Best Buy, Students can save an additional $150 http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/eaeb4a44aabf838cf760601dcbecd470.png From now until 9/3/16, Best Buy is offering $150 off the purchase of the Lenovo Yoga 900 and students can save an additional $150 off through Best Buy’s student portal. Customize your laptop experience to fit any occasion with this Lenovo Yoga 900 powered by Windows 10. Boasting a 13-inch touchscreen and a 360-degree watchband hinge, this computer functions as a tablet, laptop or viewing screen. The long-lasting battery delivers up to 10 hours of Internet browsing or 9 hours of video playback, making this Lenovo Yoga 900 ideal for travel. Learn more about this great offer here. Here’s what’s new in the Windows Store this week: Touchdown! Collection http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/77f2e16423cf92f2d86bc4db9c082bee.jpg It isn’t just back-to-school time, it’s back-to-football time, too, with the NCAA kickoff this Saturday and pro football next Thursday. The Touchdown! Collection in the Windows Store is ready with great ways to watch the game your way on Windows or Xbox, letting you follow favorite teams, stream games, view schedules and stats, listen on-the-go, plan tailgates and more! Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition Beta – Natural Texture Pack for $2.99 http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/2c4156dc792c50de861cfab932d290aa.png Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition Beta is all about building worlds – and stories – block-by-block with your imagination, from makeshift shelters to the grandest of castles. Create and explore the worlds you imagine, and now get more for your efforts from a new Natural Texture Pack ($2.99). Designed to give your Minecraft worlds a more natural, realistic look, it’s the next step in the evolution of this incredibly popular game. Movies & TV End of Summer Salehttp://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/27ca98f99b7d4f6a68e02e9523fef9a7.jpg It’s time for one of our biggest sales of the year – the End of Summer Sale! Save big on must-have movies and TV shows now through 9/5 in the Movies & TV section of the Windows Store. Enjoy new releases like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice for up to 27% off, or binge watch your favorite TV dramas – including The Blacklist and The 100 – for up to 44% off. Captain America: Civil War – Buy from $19.99http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/48523a589afe128b4f000619904a33fd.jpg When the threat of government interference causes a massive rift between Iron Man and Captain America, the rest of the Avengers are forced to choose sides…but who will fight the bad guys if the Avengers are fighting each other? Buy Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War now in the Movies & TV section of the Windows Store, 11 days before it’s available on Blu-ray. Head over to the new and updated section in the Windows Store to see what else is new in the Windows Store this week, and have a great weekend! Continue reading...

Today, we’re happy to announce that you can now pre-order Windows 10 PC games from the Windows Store. As we prepare for one of our biggest holiday launches ever, the Window 10 PC versions of ReCore, Forza Horizon 3, and Gears of War 4 can be pre-ordered from the Windows Store starting today. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/9bfc09249c738318bffac9aeff319ad8.jpg Each of these games supports Xbox Play Anywhere, giving our community the freedom to play their games wherever they want. These are just the first few Xbox Play Anywhere games, with many more coming – check out the full list at Xbox Play Anywhere. When you buy an Xbox Play Anywhere digital game through the Xbox Store or the Windows Store, it’s yours to play on both Xbox One and Windows 10 PC at no additional cost. Plus, when you start playing any Xbox Play Anywhere game, you can pause and pick back up where you left off on another Xbox One or Windows 10 PC, bringing all your saves, game add-ons, and Achievements with you. In all cases, Xbox Play Anywhere titles act as one game with one account and can be accessed across multiple devices. And if you don’t yet own one of these devices, don’t worry, your catalog of Xbox Play Anywhere games lives in the cloud and will be ready to download in the future. Head over to Xbox Wire to read more, and visit the Windows Store today to pre-order this holiday season’s biggest lineup of games ever! Continue reading...

Xbox Wire revealed a new trailer for ReCore this morning and shared the global release dates for ReCore on Windows 10 and Xbox One. Developed by legendary creator Keiji Inafune and Armature Studio, the team behind the Metroid Prime series, ReCore is an exclusive new IP for Xbox One and Windows 10 that marries action and platforming gameplay with incredible visuals, unique art and an emotional, engaging story. ReCore is the first game to feature Xbox Play Anywhere, with one purchase of $40 USD providing access to the game on both Xbox One and Windows 10 and progress shared across devices for easy picking up where you left off, no matter where you play. ReCore will be available in the Windows Store for Windows 10 PCs and Xbox One beginning Sept. 13 (North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific except Japan); Sept. 15 (Japan); and Sept.16 (EMEA) and will be fully localized (voice and text) for English, German, French, Italian, Spanish (LATAM), Brazilian Portuguese, and Russian, and will include language support (UI and subtitles) for Spanish (Iberian), Chinese (simplified and traditional), Japanese and Korean. To learn more about today’s news visit Xbox Wire. Continue reading...

It’s been an exciting last few weeks watching our OEM partners introduce a collection of new Windows PCs at variety of recent industry events including gamescom in Cologne, IFA 2016 in Berlin, and PAX West 2016 in Seattle. Partners including Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP and Lenovo have all unveiled their latest Windows 10 2-in-1s, ultrathin notebooks, unique desktop PCs, all-in-ones and gaming rigs. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/98be03bab6ada8524646a3c2856b7a06.jpg Windows 10 is better than ever at helping people and businesses be more productive and secure, and our partners continue to introduce innovative devices that bring the Windows 10 experiences to life. From the world’s thinnest notebooks to the first curved-screen gaming notebook, the devices announced recently are on the bleeding edge of design and performance and highlight just some of the Windows 10 features including Windows Hello, Cortana and increased gaming capabilities. Here are just a few of the highlights of the dozens of new products introduced at gamescom, IFA and PAX. Thin and beautiful, packed with features For those who seek a thin and sleek PC, Acer is expanding their ultra-slim notebook offerings with its Swift Series, ultra-thin Windows 10 devices designed for a broad range of budgets and lifestyles. The pencil-thin Swift 7 measures just 0.39 inches and weighs just 2.48 pounds. The Acer Swift 7 with Windows 10 Click to view slideshow. In addition, Acer introduced the Spin Series, which boasts a convertible notebook at 0.43 inches and 2.6 pounds. Ranging in size from 11.6-inches to 14-inches, these new convertible Windows 10 notebooks incorporate innovative 360-degree hinges and can be used as either a notebook or tablet, with a space-saving display mode, or in tent mode for sharing presentations or watching movies. The Acer Spin 7 with Windows 10 Click to view slideshow. Meanwhile, Lenovo is expanding the Yoga family with the new Yoga 910, an ultra-thin 0.56” convertible laptop that offers up to 15.5 hours of battery life, while harnessing the power of up to Intel’s latest 7th Gen Core i7 processor. The Yoga 910 includes 10 percent more screen area than its previous generations with a 14 percent increase in pixel density for sharper images, 100 percent sRGB color gamut coverage, enhanced music and sound with Dolby Audio Premium, and the choice of a 4K or Full HD display. The Lenovo 910 with Windows 10 Click to view slideshow. ASUS announced new European pricing and availability for its for ZenBook 3, Transformer 3 Pro, Transformer 3, ZenPad 3S 10 and ZenScreen. The ZenBook 3, an ultra-sleek 0.47” laptop, offers a built-in fingerprint reader with Windows Hello support. The reader provides customers with instant, one-touch access so they can sign in quickly and securely without having to type their password or PIN. The ZenBook 3 also showcases an innovative cooling system with ultra-thin 3mm thermal system design and Intel’s core i7 performance. The Transformer 3 is a beautiful 2-in-1 pc that is 0.275” thin and crafted from aluminum with color options in Icicle Gold and Glacier Gray. The Transformer 3 Pro gives customers an integrated metal kickstand with a step-less hinge that allowing the device to be used at almost any angle up to 170°. The ASUS ZenBook 3 with Windows 10 Click to view slideshow. Productivity meets entertainment Lenovo’s latest innovations also include the Miix 510, a detachable that gives users a full-size keyboard when they want it with the freedom to leave it behind when they’re on the go. With the power of up to the 6th Gen Intel Core i7 processor to get work done, the Miix 510 detaches from its keyboard to become a standalone tablet, great for browsing and online entertainment. Combined with a full-size touchscreen, you can take notes, sketch, draw and create in any way you want using Windows Ink in the Windows 10 Anniversary edition. And with up to 7.5 hours of battery life, the Miix 510 also makes a great presentation device, an e-reader or a work laptop. The Lenovo Miix 510 with Windows 10 Click to view slideshow. Big entertainment in a small package Acer is bringing Windows 10 to the world of entertainment with the launch of the Revo Base home entertainment hub. This addition to Acer’s award-winning Revo mini PC lineup packs powerful performance into a compact 1-liter chassis that’s ideal for use as a multimedia hub in homes where space is at a premium. The entertainment, browsing and content-serving device features up to Intel Core i7 processor, and up to 8GB of DDR3L system memory, ensuring that it runs smoothly when handling intensive tasks such as decoding high-quality multimedia content. The Revo Base also offers plentiful storage for all your entertainment needs including playing videos, music and pictures. Thinking outside the box Innovative design is at the core of the HP Pavilion Wave, a Windows 10 desktop PC for home users that features an iconic triangular form. HP’s new desktop PC is 85 percent smaller than traditional PC towers, but still has the power of a full-sized desktop. The desktop design is built around the central audio system and finished with premium materials including acoustic fabric engineered for room filling sound. A parabolic reflector on top of the PC reflects the sound coming from the speaker grille in parallel from all directions and acts as an outlet vent for hot air to come out. The 360 Degree Multi-Directional Reflective Audio delivers a crisp audio profile at all frequencies and is tuned by B&O Play for amazing sound whether listening to mid, high or low ranges. The HP Pavilion Wave also incorporates dual array microphones to take full advantage of Cortana, allowing users to talk to their computer for hands-free interactions. The HP Pavilion Wave with Windows 10 Click to view slideshow. HP is also pushing the boundaries of workplace collaboration and productivity with the HP Elite Slice, the first modular commercial desktop with cable-less connectivity. The cable-less design allows for a clean work environment without the need for separate cables plugged into the wall to power each component. Its modular design features stunning curves in matte black with polished copper accents to streamline workplaces. It allows customers to pick and choose a factory cover or stackable options to add functionality including the Collaboration Cover or Wireless Charging Cover (The Wireless Charging Cover is expected to start shipping in the first half of 2017 and requires factory configuration), or additional stackable modules such as the Audio Module or ODD (Optical Disk Drive) Module. These options create a beautiful PC that is unique to each business and its employees. The ultra-small, big power form factor is just 6.5” x 1.38” x 6.5” and weighs 2.31. The HP Elite Slice with Windows 10 Click to view slideshow. The HP Elite Slice portfolio also includes the new HP Elite Slice for Meeting Rooms solution to help users get more out of their meetings by having seamless technology to drive immersive conferencing and collaboration experiences with integrated audio and full desktop functionality. HP Elite Slice for Meeting Rooms combines HP Elite Slice, the HP Collaboration Cover, HP Audio Module and Intel® Unite™ software to create a unique Microsoft Skype for Business conferencing solution making meeting rooms more intuitive and efficient with crisp, clear sound. More immersive gaming In the world of gaming, Acer and Dell are taking the experience to the next level with their new Windows 10 gaming notebooks. Acer is expanding its Predator series with the Predator 21 X, the world’s first notebook to offer a curved display to deliver the ultimate, immersive gaming experience. The Predator 21 X offers a curved 21-inch IPS display that offers wide-angle viewing to ensure smooth and sharp gameplay. The notebook also integrates Tobii eye-tracking technology that tracks a gamer’s eye movement that lets players aim, identify enemies and take cover simply by gazing at objects on the screen. The Acer Predator 21X with Windows 10 Click to view slideshow. Dell’s new Alienware Windows 10 gaming notebooks are the company’s thinnest and first virtual reality-ready line of notebooks. Offered in 13-, 15-, and 17-inch screen sizes, the Alienware family includes the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10-Series family of GPUs, desktop-class graphics performance, and are up to 25 percent thinner than previous versions. Games sound great due to an enhanced new speaker design that includes internal smart amps that monitor audio waveforms, enabling the use of the entire thermal margin of the speaker. All of this in enclosed in new construction materials that improve both heat management and durability. In addition, Alienware also includes support for optional Tobii eye-tracking technology, and an exclusive Overwolf app that can replay gaze patterns so gamers can learn from mistakes and find new opportunities to crush the competition. The Dell Alienware 17 with Windows 10 Click to view slideshow. ASUS showcased their latest lineup of gaming innovations including the ROG 3DMod PC, which demonstrates the latest synchronized ASUS Aura RGB lighting technology and creative 3D-printed accessories, providing gamers with new options for customization. The PC build features a liquid-cooled system and ASUS Aura RGB lighting with nine programmable lighting effects that can be synchronized across its ROG Rampage V Edition 10 motherboard, ROG Strix GTX 1080 graphics card and attached RGB strips, giving gamers the freedom of customization. Taking gaming to the next level As if all these brand-new devices aren’t enough, HP recently announced its OMEN X family of gaming products for “domination-level gaming.” The high-end lineup includes an upgrade to the OMEN 17.3-inch diagonal laptop, OMEN X Desktop, OMEN X Curved Display and OMEN with SteelSeries accessories, delivering aggressive performance, customization, and flexibility for the hard-core gamer. The HP OMEN X family with Windows 10 Click to view slideshow. Lenovo jumps into virtual gaming with the recently announced IdeaCentre Y710 Cube and IdeaCentre AIO Y910 desktop PCs. Offering portability for the serious player, both devices come in space-saving form factors to give top-of-the-line performance around the home and elsewhere. The compact IdeaCentre Y710 Cube even comes with a built-in carry handle for easy transport. And the sleek IdeaCentre AIO Y910 offers massive gaming power — without the mass — while also filling the bill as a family PC or video entertainment center. The Lenovo IdeaCentre Y710 Cube with Windows 10 Click to view slideshow. These new devices represent some of the most impressive PCs and Windows 10 experiences in the market today, and I couldn’t be more excited with the work our partners continue to do to push the boundaries in modern devices and solutions. Whether at home, work or play, these devices do a fantastic job of lighting up the experiences Windows 10 has to offer. To learn more about the wide range of powerful devices built on Windows 10, please see our Windows 10 devices website. Continue reading...

Today at PAX West, Dell unveiled all-new Alienware gaming notebooks with Windows 10, including the introduction of its thinnest and first-ever VR-ready notebooks. To celebrate its 20th anniversary as a leading pioneer in specialty high-performance PC gaming systems, this new line of notebooks run on Windows 10 and boast the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10-Series family of GPUs, desktop-class graphics performance on notebooks and more. Let’s take a look at these gaming-ready PCs: The Alienware 17 with Windows 10 Click to view slideshow. The new Alienware 17 is the ultimate gaming notebook with an emphasis on screen size, gaming performance and overall immersion. This flagship notebook gains more power, with overclocked Intel Core i7 processors and DDR4 memory running up to 2667 Mhz. Thinner than ever before, its new hinge-forward design increases system ventilation. New materials including anti-smudge finishes add great utility to its aggressive look. Alienware 17 also supports Windows Hello, so you can log onto your device with a scan of your face, rather than typing passwords, making security more convenient and natural. Other features include: Powered by Windows 10 Optional IR Tobii eye-tracking technology adds great accessibility features based on where you’re looking Intel Core i7 processors and DDR4 memory running up to 2667 Mhz New speaker design includes internal smart-amps that monitor audio waveforms, enabling the use of the entire thermal margin of the speaker for stronger sound Pricing and availability: The new Alienware 17 system will be available in the coming weeks and can be found on Alienware.com or Dell.com in the United States and in select countries around the world. Please check your local retailer for specific availability in your region. The Alienware 15 with Windows 10 Click to view slideshow. Balancing superior gaming performance with portability, the new mid-size Alienware 15 is for gamers that want the best of both. With more power in a thinner frame, it comes with great graphics options from AMD and NVIDIA, including the stunning, VR-ready NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060. Coming standard with a 15.6” FHD, IPS Anti-Glare, 300-nits display, additional options include FHD 120Hz display with NVIDIA G-Sync for incredibly smooth, synchronized frame rates and UHD IGZO for 4k resolutions. Built to be on-the-go, its exceptional battery life keeps it going with a 68 watt-hour lithium ion battery and an optional 99 watt-hour battery to enable extended gameplay when away from a plug. Pricing and availability: The new Alienware 15 system will be available in the coming weeks and can be found on Alienware.com or Dell.com in the United States and in select countries around the world. Please check your local retailer for specific availability in your region. The Alienware 13 with Windows 10 The new Alienware 13 may be the brand’s smallest notebook, but with some big improvements. Configurable with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10-Series graphics, this aggressive design will offer one of the most compact VR-ready devices ever. Whether gaming at high resolutions or in your own virtual world, trillions of LED lighting combinations through eight unique programmable lighting zones with up to 20 distinct colors deliver truly dazzling gameplay. Pricing and availability: The Alienware 13 will be available in November and can all be found on Alienware.com or Dell.com in the United States and in select countries around the world. Please check your local retailer for specific availability in your region. The Alienware Graphics Amplifier The Alienware Graphics Amplifier is designed to propel your mobile gameplay to warp speed as a plug-in companion to Alienware laptops; small enough to slide into a standard carry case, yet powerful enough to transform mobile gaming, including VR, the Graphics Amp can be your ticket to otherworldly experiences. Great for adding to your Graphics Amp or any Alienware device, Dell offers some of the best monitors in the world. The new Dell 24 Gaming Monitor (S2417DG) delivers sharp and clear QHD graphics and matches gamers’ speed of reaction with virtually no input lag at a 1 ms panel response time for the ultimate competitive edge. The Dell UltraSharp 34 Curved Monitor (U3417W) takes the benefits of curved, ultra-wide screens even further with a more immersive viewing experience; it’s perfect for going deeper into gaming action with extended peripheral vision and 18W speakers for a cinematic experience. Dell’s newest Alienware gaming PCs built with Windows 10 are perfect for the ultimate gaming experience. Exact specifications, prices, and availability will vary by region. Visit Dell.com to learn more, and look for them on shelves as soon as this week! Continue reading...

Today, HP Inc. debuted two new desktop PCs with Windows 10 that are revolutionizing traditional desktop design for the home and workplace. These PCs light up great Windows 10 features – for example, the dual microphones in the HP Pavilion Wave and the dual microphone module in the HP Elite Slice both enable Cortana* with voice integration, so you can communicate naturally by talking with your own digital personal assistant. Let’s take a look at these new desktop PCs: The HP Pavilion Wave with Windows 10 Click to view slideshow. With the HP Pavilion Wave, design, entertainment and productivity come together in an exciting new design. For customers who want a PC that can fit into small places, the new offering is a beautiful and compact design with the power of a full-sized desktop, running on Windows 10. The dual microphones enable voice integration with your digital personal assistant, Cortana. It features an iconic triangular form with an innovative parabolic reflector with an integrated speaker on top of the PC for superior, 360-degree audio experiences to a fill room with crisp audio. This unique desktop is built around a fully integrated, advanced audio system to play music, listen to movies and web chats. Other features include: Powered by Windows 10 Fully integrated, advanced audio capabilities Up to two 4K displays are supported out-of-the-box to power entertainment and productivity Peripheral support with three USB 3.0 ports, one USB 3.1 Type-C port for data transfer, one HDMI port, one DisplayPort, Gigabit Ethernet and a microphone/headphone jack. Cortana support with two dual microphones for customers to talk to their PC for a hands-free experience High-performing power house with up to 6th Generation Intel Core i7 quad-core desktop processors, ample storage up to 2 TB HDD, an optional dual drive with 128 GB SSD5 and up to 16GB of DDR4 system memory Optional AMD Radeon R9 M470 discrete graphics for photo and video editing or light gaming Pricing and Availability: HP Pavilion Wave starting price is $549.99 and is expected to be available on HP.com and select retailers on September 23, 2016. The HP Elite Slice with Windows 10 Click to view slideshow. The HP Elite Slice is the first modular commercial desktop with cable-less connectivity and enables customers to build the desktop of their choice. This desktop changes the way office space is designed by creating streamlined work environments that boast productivity and collaboration between employees while transforming the workplace and workstyles. Its modular design features stunning curves in matte black with polished copper accents to streamline workplaces. It allows customers to pick and choose a factory cover or stackable options to add functionality including the Collaboration Cover or Wireless Charging Cover, or stackable modules such as the Audio Module or ODD (Optical Disk Drive) Module for a beautiful PC that is unique to each business and its employees. The ultra-small, big power form factor is just 6.5” x 1.38” x 6.5” and weighs 2.31 lbs. The cable-less design allows for a clean work environment because customers do not separate cables plugged into the wall to power each component. This is the first commercial desktop powered from a display via only one USB 3.1 Type-C cable with a Type-C compatible display including the optional new Quad HD HP EliteDisplay S240uj Monitor. The display is equipped with integrated wireless charging and USB Type-C to perfectly complement the desktop. With this new offering running on Windows 10 Pro, versatility, performance and security merge to deliver greater productivity and collaboration between employees while transforming the workplace. HP Elite Slice versatility is provided by cover and base expansion options. You can choose from different covers when configuring the PC and expand the solution at any time with additional modules to create the desktop that best fits your needs: HP Collaboration Cover: turns the desktop into a Microsoft Skype for Business phone for easy call management with capacitive touch keys. HP Wireless Charging Cover: wireless charging starts automatically upon contact to eliminate charging cables and ensure mobile phones and devices are powered, ready for use. The Wireless Charging Cover is expected to start shipping in the first half of 2017 and requires factory configuration. HP Audio Module: spoken word tuning makes virtual meetings and call experiences crisp and clear with audio tuned by Bang & Olufsen, 360-degree speaker design, dual-microphone array with range of five meters and HP Noise Cancellation software. HP ODD Module: for quick and easy back up or to archive files and access legacy content on CDs or DVDs. Other features include: An optional touch fingerprint sensor for improved security and easy authentication. HP Sure Start with Dynamic Protection, the industry’s first self-healing BIOS-level protection. Up to 6th Generation Intel Core i7 35-watt processors for the performance to easily handle productivity and collaboration needs. Unique 360-degree dual fan pipe ring keeps the powerful device running cool. Peripheral support for enhanced productivity including one Ethernet port, built-in Wi-Fi module and antennas, one HDMI and one DisplayPort to power multiple displays. Pricing and Availability: The HP Elite Slice starts from $699 and is expected to be available in September 2016. The HP Elite Slice for Meeting Rooms with Windows 10 The HP Elite Slice portfolio also includes the new HP Elite Slice for Meeting Rooms solution, the first conferencing room PC with one-touch meeting start. This offering helps users get more out of their meetings by having seamless technology to drive immersive conferencing and collaboration experiences with integrated audio and full desktop functionality. HP Elite Slice for Meeting Rooms combines HP Elite Slice, the HP Collaboration Cover, HP Audio Module and Intel® Unite™ software create a unique Microsoft Skype for Business conferencing solution making meeting rooms more intuitive and efficient with crisp, clear sound. For a more immersive conference room experience, this configuration can be combined with the new HP LD5511 55-inch Large Format Display, which features 178-degree viewing angles with a resolution of 1920 x 1080. The high brightness and contrast ratio provide excellent picture quality and readability that is perfect for meeting rooms that seat up to 12 people. Pricing and Availability: The HP Elite Slice for Meeting Rooms starts from $949 and is expected to be available in September 2016. The HP EliteDisplay S240uj Monitor starts from $429 and is expected to be available in October 2016. The HP LD5511 55-inch Large Format Display starting price is $999 and is expected to be available September 2016. Look for these great new desktops with Windows 10 from HP as soon as September! Visit HP.com for more information. *Cortana available in select markets. Continue reading...

Today at IFA 2016, Lenovo announced great new additions to their multimode PC family, including the new Yoga 910 convertible laptop and the Miix 510 detachable. These new devices with Windows 10 arrive with the newest industry technology built-in, including the Yoga 910’s fingerprint reader that utilizes Windows Hello to simplify logging in. Let’s take a look at a few of the devices announced today: The Lenovo Yoga Book 2-in-1 tablet with Windows 10 Click to view slideshow. The new Lenovo Yoga Book with Windows 10 is a 2-in-1 tablet designed for unmatched productivity while on-the-go. It’s thin and light – weighing less than two pounds – and you can easily take notes with Windows Ink or markup webpages in Microsoft Edge using the touchscreen or the Yoga Book’s Create Pad. The thin and light design, up to 13-hour battery life and 360-degree watchband hinge gives you the freedom to write and draw anywhere, matching the mobility of a smartphone without having to carry a laptop or detachable. The Yoga Book’s Halo Keyboard has built-in artificial learning software to learn and adapt to your typing habits, and lacks any physical keys, showing up as a solid white outline on the second panel only when it’s needed. Other features include: Powered by Windows 10 64GB of memory Up to 13 hours of battery life 10.1-inch IPS FHD screen Music and sound are enhanced with Dolby Audio Premium Transitions easily between four modes – Browse, Watch, Create and Type The standard real-pen accessory, a Wacom dual-use stylus, works as a stylus on the Yoga Book’s screen and Create Pad, and also holds real ink tips so you can write on paper covering the Create Pad Pricing and Availability: Pricing for the Yoga Book with Windows 10 will start at $549 in the US. Pricing and availability may vary from country to country. All will be globally available beginning in September. In the US, the Yoga Book will be sold online by the end of October. The Lenovo Yoga 910 with Windows 10 Click to view slideshow. The Lenovo Yoga 910 is the world’s thinnest Intel Core i convertible laptop – just 0.56 in – and the ideal convertible for both work and entertainment. The Yoga 910 has an embedded advanced fingerprint reader so, with the touch of a finger, you can quickly log onto your PC using Windows Hello without entering a long password. It also offers a choice of a 4K or Full HD screen and near edgeless display (5mm bezel) that offers better screen area and better pixel density for sharper, clearer images. Other features include: Powered by Windows 10 Up to 15.5 hours of battery life Available with up to Intel’s latest 7th Gen Core i7 processor Music and sound are enhanced with Dolby Audio Premium New all-metal unibody casing available in Champagne Gold, Platinum Silver and Gunmetal The signature watchband hinge enables flexible usage modes –type in laptop mode, present in stand mode, watch videos in tent mode or browse in tablet mode Pricing and Availability: The Yoga 910 starts at $1299, available starting in October 2016 on lenovo.com. The Lenovo Miix 510 detachable with Windows 10 Click to view slideshow. The Miix 510 with Windows 10 gives you the format and functionality of a tablet with the comfort and convenience of having a full-size, fully functioning keyboard. With the laptop power of up to 6th Gen Intel Core i7 processor to create content, the Miix 510 detaches from its keyboard, turning into a standalone tablet for online entertainment. Combined with a full-size touchscreen, you can take notes, sketch, draw and create in any way you want using Windows Ink. The Miix 510 is versatile enough to carry you from day to night with up to 7.5 hours of battery life. Other features include: Powered by Windows 10 2-inch touchscreen Up to 1TB of PCIe SSD (solid-state drive) storage Beyond Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, the Miix 510 includes optional LTE – so you can use a mobile network when you don’t have Wi-Fi Weighs less than 2 pounds without the keyboard for easy carrying on-the-go 280 individual pieces of stainless steel give the integrated kickstand 150-degree angle adjustment, so it’s comfortable to use Pricing and Availability: The Miix 510 (keyboard included) starts at $599, available beginning in October 2016 on lenovo.com. Head over here for terms and conditions, discover more at lenovo.com/lenovolaunch and lenovo.com/ifa, and look for the new devices starting in October! Continue reading...

Hello Windows Insiders! It’s been a busy few weeks here in Redmond. Last week, we had engineering reviews where each team presented their plans for the next few months to make sure that the customer scenarios we want to deliver are all prioritized appropriately. It was great to see all of the Windows leaders in the same room and the energy and excitement about this release was obvious by some of the live-tweeting that went on during the week. You will see the results of the reviews in the builds that will be coming out in the next few months. Now, onto the news you all have been waiting for! Today we are excited to be releasing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14915 for PC and Mobile to Windows Insiders in the Fast ring. Improving app and update downloads in Windows 10 with Delivery Optimization Starting today, Windows Insiders that have Delivery Optimization enabled will be able to download new Insider Preview builds, OS updates, and app updates from other PCs on their local network as well as from other PCs on the Internet. We introduced Delivery Optimization with the Windows 10 November Update giving users the ability to get updates from PCs on a local network and are now enabling the ability to get updates from PCs on the Internet. When enabled, your PC may also send parts of apps or updates that you have downloaded using Delivery Optimization to other PCs. To check your settings for Delivery Optimization, go to Settings > Update & security > Windows Update > Advanced options and choosing “Choose how updates are delivered.” http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/6595f6127d5017fe36fd5b4abfb7540b.png When Delivery Optimization is used on your PC to download apps and OS updates from other PCs on your network or the Internet for the first time, you will see a notification in the Action Center. In addition to downloading apps, app updates and OS updates from the Windows Update servers, Delivery Optimization will look for nearby PCs on your local network or on the Internet that have Delivery Optimization enabled and find the app or OS update you need that may be even closer to your PC. Rather than downloading an entire file from one machine, Delivery Optimization breaks the download into small pieces and uses what is assessed as the fastest, most reliable source for each piece of the file. Delivery Optimization is also mindful of local disk usage, use of cellular networks, battery life, and other network activity. It is also integrated with and builds on the existing security measures in Windows Update and Windows Store to check the authenticity of each file downloaded from other PCs. Particularly for PCs with challenging network conditions, this is designed to provide a better and more reliable download experience. Delivery Optimization is on by default. If you don’t wish to use Delivery Optimization, you can turn it off by going to Settings > Update & security > Windows Update > Advanced options and choosing “Choose how updates are delivered”. You can also choose instead to use Delivery Optimization only for your local network. And system administrators can use Group Policies or MDM policies to configure these settings as well as manage advanced settings such as extending the definition of a local network beyond the LAN to allow PCs in remote offices to collaborate seamlessly. Since introducing Delivery Optimization for PCs on your local network in the Windows 10 November Update, we have seen more and more people adopt and benefit from this feature in the past year, anywhere from small businesses to large enterprises with thousands of Windows 10 PCs. We have seen a 30% – 50% reduction in Internet bandwidth usage required to keep multiple PCs on the same local network up-to-date with the latest Insider Preview builds and apps from the Store. Please help us test this feature and share your feedback! Today we are also publishing a Quest so more Windows Insiders can try this feature out on the next flight and provide additional feedback on this experience we can use during our development of Windows. For more information on Delivery Optimization in Windows 10 – check out this FAQ. Improvements and fixes for PC We fixed the issue with being unable to use the power button on the Start menu. We fixed the issue causing Cortana’s text to speech capabilities to not work. Cortana should be able to read text messages out loud for you, tell jokes, sing, or give verbal prompts as expected. We fixed the issue causing the Settings app to crash on certain editions of Windows 10 when navigating to different settings pages due to a missing .dll file. We made a number of improvements to translations, including fixing an issue in Windows Update where it would say “your phone is up to date” in French when confirming that your PC was up to date. Changing functionality via Settings > Update & security > Windows Insider Program such as your ring settings should now work again on this build. For more information – see this forum post. We fixed a compatibility issue from a recent platform change that causes apps such as Yahoo Mail, Trivia Crack, Google and the Skype Translator Preview app to crash. We fixed an issue resulting in some Insiders experiencing a delay in Mail notification toasts appearing. We fixed an issue where the “Open with” dialog’s “Look for another app on this PC” link wasn’t working if the dialog appeared after using the “Run” dialog to open a file with an unassociated file type. We have updated the Connect flyout so that the clickable area for each device listed now spans across the full width of the flyout. We fixed an issue where if a Chinese Input Method Editor is active it could result in logging in to not succeed after device goes into and is woken up from Connected Standby. We fixed an issue where for certain websites in Microsoft Edge, using CTRL + A to select all text and then copying it and trying to paste it into Notepad wouldn’t paste anything. We fixed an issue where importing favorites into Microsoft Edge from Internet Explorer would fail if the Favorites folder had been redirected to another folder, for example “C:\Users\<user>\Documents\Favorites”. Improvements and fixes for Mobile We fixed the issue causing apps to get stuck in a pending state if you move apps between a SD card and internal storage (either direction). We fixed the issue causing Cortana’s text to speech capabilities to not work. Cortana should be able to read text messages out loud for you, tell jokes, sing, or give verbal prompts as expected. Changing functionality via Settings > Update & security > Windows Insider Program such as your ring settings should now work again on this build. For more information – see this forum post. We fixed a compatibility issue from a recent platform change that causes apps such as Yahoo Mail, Trivia Crack, Google and the Skype Translator Preview app to crash. We made a number of improvements to translations, including fixing an issue with Store app install notifications, where the wrong verb was used in German when letting you know to check out the app. We have updated “You need to fix your MSA” notification toast logic, so it will no longer notify you multiple times in quick succession. We fixed an issue where examining Microsoft Edge’s advanced settings would result in subsequent downloads in Edge saving to the default locations, rather the preferred locations set under Settings > System > Storage. We fixed an issue for Continuum-capable devices that could result in being temporarily unable to connect to a previously paired Windows 10 PC. We have updated the settings for sounds so that .mp3 or .wma files downloaded straight from OneDrive or copied from File Explorer to the phone’s Ringtones folder will now display automatically in the list of available sounds for ringtones, alarms and notifications. Known issues for PC Adobe Acrobat Reader crashes when you try to launch it. You may experience a black screen when signing out and switching to another user account and will be unable to log in to that account. A reboot of your PC should allow you to log in to that account. Bash may not work after upgrading to this build. To get it working again, go to “Turn Windows features on or off”, scroll down and check “Windows Subsystem for Linux (beta)” and click ok. After a reboot, Bash should work again. The Settings app may crash when going to Settings > Personalization. ADDED 9/1: You will lose wireless network connectivity after upgrading to this build on a Surface Pro 1 or Surface Pro 2. See this forum thread for more information. Known issues for Mobile ADDED 8/31: You will be unable to download and install additional speech and language packs in this build. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/63ff73483404e9f8409a8f74294fd43e.jpg Several of you have been asking what is next for the #WINsiders4Good effort. We have just completed a 4 city set of Create-A-Thons where we gathered together both technical and creative Insiders to form teams and tackle issues around: (8/3-4) Seattle – homelessness (8/11-13) Berlin – low-income housing (8/16-19) Cologne – games for good (8/22-23) London– low-income housing One piece of feedback we heard over and over again was that our motto of “arrive as strangers, leave as friends” resonated and people felt a connection with the other Insiders they did the 18 hour project with. This made us VERY happy. We want our Insiders to be leaders in their local communities and use the technology they love to eradicate the problems they hate. http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/68c6aec9cca6480d580dfc07476ac39a.jpg We will have a recap video for all of you once we gather the footage in one place. In September, we are also creating DIY Create-A-Thon kits so that any Insider can partner with a NGO, choose a topic, find some local Insider friends and organize an event to solve the problem. We will share news of this when it’s ready. In the meantime… Keep hustling, Dona <3 Continue reading...

Today, Paul Jensen, Studio Manager of Microsoft Casual Games announced on Xbox Wire that Microsoft Solitaire Collection on Windows has reached more than 100 million unique users. To commemorate the milestone, we’re sharing a few facts you might not know about Microsoft Solitaire Collection and details on a new game feature that will take your Solitaire gameplay to the next level! http://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/39d7638b21e428aa7dd4355f89e0dfa6.png Some facts you might not know about Microsoft Solitaire Collection In its 26-year run, Solitaire still remains one of the most played games of all time on any Windows OS and with today’s Microsoft Solitaire Collection on Windows 10 and Windows 8, that legacy continues. On average, 55 million Microsoft Solitaire Collection games are played per day – that’s equivalent to 20 billion games per year, 2.29 million each hour and 38,194 each minute. You can earn some serious gamer cred by playing. Since Microsoft Solitaire Collection added support for Xbox Live when it came to Windows 10 and 8, the game has awarded more than 1.3 billion Gamerscore to players to date. Events Coming to Microsoft Solitaire Collection The Solitaire team is introducing a new game mode called Events, available this fall. If you’ve ever wanted to play Solitaire while winning awards and seeing how you stack up against your friends and the community, now’s your chance to get in on the action. With Events, you can play your favorite games and build your Solitaire legacy. Join the millions of fans already playing Microsoft Solitaire Collection, available for free in the Windows Store today. Continue reading...

Today at IFA 2016, Acer unveiled several great new Windows 10 devices and desktop monitors, including PCs built ready for gaming or working on-the-go. The Acer Swift 7 and Spin 7 with Windows 10 are both less than three pounds and extremely thin, so you can take them anywhere. The Predator 21 X, a 21” Curved-Screen Notebook with Windows 10 comes with built-in eye-tracking hardware (infrared sensors and software), introducing new interactions in gaming like aiming, identifying enemies and taking cover simply by gazing at objects on the screen. The infrared sensors also enable Windows Hello for added security and convenience, scanning your face to unlock the device, in place of typing passwords. Let’s take a look at a few of these devices: The Acer Swift 7 with Windows 10 Lightweight and extremely thin, the Swift 7 weighs in at just 2.48 pounds and measures .39 inches thin. Its black-and-gold dual tone design adds a touch of elegance to its durable all-aluminum unibody, while tough Corning Gorilla Glass provides superior scratch resistance to the 13.3-inch Full HD IPS2 display with a micro-bezel. With up to 9 hours of battery life, it is the perfect notebook for those on-the-go. Click to view slideshow. Other features include: Powered by Windows 10 Up to 9 hours of battery life HD webcam with HDR (High Dynamic Range) imaging support provides clear, bright and detailed images. 7th Generation Intel Core i5 processor, fast 256GB SSD and up to 8GB of memory dual USB 3.1 Type-C ports are included for quick data transfer, connection to an external display, and to charge the notebook Pricing and Availability: The Acer Swift 7 will be available in North America in October with prices starting at $999; in EMEA in October with prices starting at €1,299. The Acer Spin 7 with Windows 10 Thinner than a standard DVD case, the Spin 7 convertible notebook with Windows 10 is a mere 0.43 inches thin and weighs just 2.6 pounds. Its 13-inch all-aluminum unibody houses a 14-inch FHD IPS Corning Gorilla Glass touchscreen display with a narrow bezel, perfect for drawing with Windows Ink or marking up webpages in Microsoft Edge. Sleek and contemporary, the Spin 7’s matte black chassis is complemented with polished silver hinges and diamond-cut edges around the touchpad. A wide-glass touchpad helps fingers glide smoothly across the surface with minimal friction. Click to view slideshow. Other features include: Powered by Windows 10 Up to 8 hours of battery life 7th Generation Intel Core i7 processor Up to 8GB of memory and a speedy 256GB SSD Dual USB 3.1 Type-C ports included for quick data transfers Pricing and Availability: The Acer Spin 7 will be available in North America in October with prices starting at $1,199; and in EMEA in October with prices starting at €1,299 The Acer Predator 21” Curved-Screen Notebook with Windows 10 Acer’s new Predator 21 X, the first notebook with a curved screen, integrates eye-tracking technology for an even more immersive user experience. With 7th Generation Intel Core processors and dual NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphic cards in SLI, the Predator 21 X takes the AAA gaming experience to a new level, while the curved screen also features NVIDIA G-SYNC technology to ensure smooth and sharp gameplay in every scenario. Click to view slideshow. Other features include: Powered by Windows 10 Features the latest 7thGeneration Intel Core processors, 5 cooling fans and dual NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 GPUs in SLI for unmatched graphics performance Full-sized mechanical keyboard featuring CherryMX switches, with customizable RGB backlight settings for each individual key. SoundPound2+ (4 speakers and 2 subwoofers), 3-way audio and Dolby audio Advanced cooling architecture with 5 system fans, 3 of which are ultra-thinAeroBlade metal fans, to extract excess heat for uninterrupted performance during intense sessions ThePredator 21 X’s numeric keypad also touts a unique design as it can be flipped over and turned into a Precision The Acer Predator 15 and 17 with Windows 10 Click to view slideshow. Acer’s Predator 15 and 17 gaming notebooks with Windows 10 now also feature GPUs with the all-new NVIDIA Pascal architecture, with up to NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics. This brings the note-books in line with Acer’s push to have the Predator series ready to power the latest VR devices. Pricing and Availability: The refreshed Predator 15 will be available in North America in September with prices starting at $1,699; and in EMEA in October with prices starting at €1,799. The refreshed Predator 17 will be available in North America in September with prices starting at $1,699; and in EMEA in October with prices starting at €1,799. To learn more about all the devices announced today at IFA 2016, head over to Acer.com! Continue reading...

If I buy a windows 7 home basic disc now can I upgrade it into Windows 10 ? and if yes then can I reinstall windows 10 after one year I mean is it will be a life time upgradation? View the thread