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Last week, the government of France announced a trusted cloud doctrine that includes a cloud-first policy to enhance the protection and sovereignty of its critical infrastructure and public sector workloads. To support this important initiative, today, Orange and Capgemini announced they intend to establish a new company, “Bleu,” that will deliver a Microsoft-powered cloud and modern productivity solutions (Azure and Microsoft 365) for public sector and critical infrastructure organizations, with the support of the French state. Together with Capgemini and Orange, we’re humbled to support France in its efforts to realize benefits from the digital transformation of its most mission-critical national operations, foster the development of a local business ecosystem and emerge stronger in a post-pandemic future. This announcement is the most recent example of nations around the world relying on Microsoft cloud technology to improve services to residents and business communities, while innovating faster, increasing efficiency and getting world-class security. Critical industries, along with local and national governments, are using the Microsoft cloud today to accelerate their digital transformation with confidence in a consistent hybrid environment designed for flexibility and scale, with protection and compliance. Microsoft is proud to help support nations as they develop forward-looking national digital policies that will drive economic growth. Microsoft has a comprehensive offering of cloud capabilities that can meet their needs to drive innovation, leverage the benefits of the cloud, and better support their residents, business communities and public sector employees and organizations. As nations increasingly focus on achieving data residency, Microsoft has taken the lead in offering our customers solutions that fit their needs. When organizations choose the Microsoft cloud, they can take advantage of options and tools for determining where data is stored. We recently announced the EU Data Boundary for the Microsoft Cloud, our commitment to European commercial and public sector customers to store and process their personal data in the E.U./European Economic Area by the end of next year, including data residency support for 12 nation states within the E.U. in addition to Norway and Switzerland. This commitment will apply across each of Microsoft’s cloud services – Azure, Microsoft 365 and Dynamics 365 – as well as Microsoft’s customer support operations. Microsoft cloud services already enable customers to comply with the E.U.’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) even without this additional commitment to store and process data within the E.U. boundary. Customers also have access to the broadest range of compliance tools and controls available through our large and ever-expanding network of datacenters around the globe. While the Microsoft cloud is a secure place for sensitive data and critical services, some customers still require that data be stored and processed on-premises, and here Microsoft offers a rich array of hybrid cloud options. Provisioners of critical infrastructure can extend Azure services and capabilities to their environment of choice — from the datacenter to edge locations and remote offices using Azure hybrid cloud solutions — with Azure Arc and Azure Stack. Azure Arc enables customers to extend Azure management and security to any infrastructure. Azure Stack enables customers to deploy hybrid and edge infrastructure along with Azure services and capabilities in their datacenter, remote offices or edge locations. Microsoft’s commitment to data security, privacy and data residency is why our public cloud is chosen by 95 percent of the Fortune 500 and used by governments around the world – achieving more than 90 compliance certifications to meet a broad range of industry and regulatory entity standards. In addition, Microsoft was among the first global cloud providers to extend the rights under the GDPR. We look forward to continuing our mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more, in partnership with our commercial, community and government stakeholders. And we stand ready with our partners to support the French state bring its cloud first agenda to life. To learn more about using Azure for industry-specific solutions, visit Azure solutions | Microsoft Azure The post Powering critical infrastructure with Microsoft cloud technology appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

Jump into the deep end of Minecraft Dungeons with the new Hidden Depths DLC, now live. A shard from the Orb of Dominance has been wreaking havoc, and it’s up to you to free the tides from the dangerous undertow of corruption. There’s also a free update that provides new content for all Minecraft Dungeons players. Head over to Minecraft.net to find out more. Continue reading...

https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2021/05/Douglas-Phillips-hero-art.jpg Douglas Phillips Each May we observe National Military Appreciation Month in the United States, and for Microsoft this is a time to connect with, learn from and celebrate our military community all around the globe. On May 31, we observe Memorial Day in the United States, honoring the memories of those who fell in service of the nation. On a human level, I’m always interested to learn about the history and founding of holidays along with traditions in practice, both past and present. Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day, referring to the decoration of graves with flowers, and became a federal holiday in 1971. My own Memorial Day ritual centers on supporting charities that organize wreath laying at military cemeteries, quiet reflection and conversations with friends and family about those who came before us. For the living, Memorial Day is a time to exercise our gratitude and appreciation. Speaking of how we honor selfless service, I started at Microsoft almost six years ago and was pleasantly surprised soon after when an invitation came through to an on-campus observance of Veterans Day, which in the United States is when we celebrate living veterans. On the same day, Nov. 11, the Commonwealth observes Remembrance Day to honor members of the armed forces who died in the line of duty. The origin of both traditions is Armistice Day when World War I hostilities ended on Nov. 11, 1918, and of course remembrance is something that predates that conflict in cultures worldwide. At that first event I attended at Microsoft, I met retired Maj. Gen. Chris Cortez, Vice President of Military Affairs at Microsoft, and learned about our vibrant veterans community. This drew me toward additional opportunities to get to know as many veterans as possible and gave me the chance to understand the amazing career opportunities at the company and the opportunities for us to invest further. This year, I’m particularly grateful for and proud of Microsoft’s commitment to those who have served. It is my distinct privilege to now serve as one of the executive sponsors of the global Military at Microsoft employee resource group (ERG), which connects me with a truly exceptional group of service-minded people. This Military Appreciation Month, our theme within the Microsoft community is “With Honor, In Gratitude,” and I’m cognizant of that sense of gratitude when I think about what this community means to and at Microsoft. I have been fortunate to work closely with many veterans at the company. I have found that beyond their expected business skills, they so often possess an entrepreneurial spirit with the soft skills of coalition building, a can-do mindset, and a focus on team and mission that not only is valuable across all industries but is particularly well-aligned with Microsoft’s core values. Veterans make Microsoft better, and the Military at Microsoft ERG does much to help us attract and retain veterans by creating the best possible employee experience. Our active ERG holds weekly coffee chats (virtual since COVID-19) where veterans network and share service stories and jokes about what happens when a Marine, a Navy captain, an Army officer, and a pilot walk into a bar. In addition to the coffee chats, the ERG organizes a speaker series on a wide range of topics and facilitates the Military Mentorship Program, which pairs new veteran hires with a different member of the community each month for career conversations. The ERG also brings people together to observe and honor. We commemorated last year’s Remembrance Day, commonly referred to as Poppy Day, and Veterans Day with a virtual 5k and a 22-push-up challenge that called attention to the heartbreaking statistic that on average, 22 veterans die by suicide each day. Veterans in the U.K. commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain with an 80-mile relay. Events like these sustain our sense of community and have an ancillary benefit of creating a learning opportunity open to all employees. One of the best aspects of the observation of cultural and heritage months at Microsoft is the space they create for communities to connect and share. I’ve had some great conversations about what Military Appreciation Month and our employee community mean to members. I had the opportunity to connect with the co-chairs of our ERG on this topic and was moved by their experiences and perspectives. https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2021/05/MW-Uniform-169x300.jpg Michael Warren with his daughter. Michael Warren, strategic account executive, Enterprise Commercial, joined the Army after his second year of college when he recognized that student loan debt was going to become a lifetime burden for him. Though he initially planned to stay in long enough to get the benefits and then get out, he fell in love with military life, he told me, and couldn’t quit. “Every time re-enlistment papers came by, I swore the oath and did more. A chance encounter with a technology industry executive right after Desert Storm brought me out of active service and into the reserves. For me, it was the opportunity of a lifetime. I maintained two careers for almost 20 years after joining corporate America, one as a civilian negotiating multi-billion-dollar deals and the other as a military policeman in the Army.” After multiple deployments, activations and special duty assignments over 25 years of service, Michael retired from the military to focus on family and his role at Microsoft. Military at Microsoft has given him the chance to re-engage with the military community, continue his passion for cultivating leadership and empowered him to help other prior and current service members adapt to corporate life. I asked him what he wants people to learn or know about the community. “The military community at Microsoft is not what many think it is. It is comprised of individuals who have served, individuals who are currently serving (i.e., National Guard and reserves), military spouses, and supporters of the military,” he said. “The common bond between all is a passion for service to others and a commitment to be the most inclusive community possible.” https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2021/05/cropped_Family-Memorial-Day-300x202.jpg Gina Kirby with her husband, Pete, and their daughters. Gina Kirby, senior Azure specialist, Microsoft Azure Retail, is one of those spouse and supporter members. She is married to a veteran and both her and her husband’s families have a history of service. She shared with me that Military Appreciation Month is an opportunity to acknowledge the commitments our military, their spouses, and families make in service to their country, whether they are veterans or still active in the guard or reserves. “It’s a chance to thank them for their sacrifices and, as we’ve seen this past year with the pandemic, the sacrifices they continue to make by providing frontline COVID-19 support,” she said. “I also see the community reflect and recommit to paying it forward. I talk with colleagues about what the ERG can do to support,” she said. “But what really stands out is the passion to give back. They ask, ‘How can I get involved? What can I do?’ and, ‘How do I help others get here when they retire?’ I am inspired by this selfless drive to continue the mission and serve one another.” The ERG also brings its spirit of service to philanthropic opportunities. Last year ERG members made a huge impact in the Microsoft annual October Giving Campaign — a company tradition since 1983 — toward veterans charities and other important causes. I know our Military at Microsoft ERG will rise to the occasion again this fall to bring our community together in fun and creative ways to volunteer and fundraise on behalf of military and veteran communities. The ERG also plays a key role in helping us hire veterans. Pursuing this diverse talent pool for a variety of disciplines and locations benefits the company by bringing in skilled, experienced individuals to innovate at Microsoft and helps veterans transition and develop their skills. Some examples of our initiatives and opportunities: Cleared Hiring: Microsoft is looking for people with an active security clearance to join our global mission and help shape the future of the world. Cleared talent jobs | Microsoft Careers Microsoft Software and Systems Academy (MSSA): A 17-week training program for veterans and current service members for high-demand careers in cloud development or cloud administration. Program graduates have an opportunity to interview for a full-time job at Microsoft or one of our more than 750 hiring partners. MSSA is now fully funded by Microsoft. Microsoft Software and Systems Academy – Microsoft Military Affairs LaunchCode: In an effort to further create opportunity for veterans who are passionate about technology to find success at Microsoft, and after an overwhelmingly successful pilot in 2020, Microsoft is once again partnering with LaunchCode, a Missouri-based nonprofit specializing in delivering tech education for people with non-traditional backgrounds, to bring dozens of highly cleared, transitioning military through a 16-week, Azure-curated curriculum which will prepare them for successful entry into Microsoft and to make immediate impact on some of our most critical cloud and customer challenges. I’m proud to celebrate this Military Appreciation Month — with honor, in gratitude — and to recognize the Military at Microsoft ERG and its enormous work supporting and strengthening our veteran community. Douglas Phillips is Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Azure Edge + Platform (E+P), responsible for leading a globally distributed team of engineers who build Microsoft’s operating systems, engineering systems, and edge products that span cloud-to-edge and edge-to-cloud. The post With honor, in gratitude: Recognizing the impact of the military community at Microsoft and beyond appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

As the world works to address the urgent carbon crisis, more companies than ever before are making environmental impact pledges to be carbon neutral or carbon negative. Accenture, GitHub, Microsoft and ThoughtWorks are proud to be among the companies that have made commitments to help address the global climate crisis, but as an industry, we can come together to accomplish more. Today, at Microsoft’s annual (virtual) Build Developers Conference, software development is front and center and at the heart of every keynote, every session and every panel. As we think about the future of the software industry, we believe we have a responsibility to help build a better future – a more sustainable future – both internally at our organizations and in partnership with industry leaders around the globe. With data centers around the world accounting for 1% of global electricity demand, and projections to consume 3-8% in the next decade, it’s imperative we address this as an industry. To help in that endeavor, we’re excited to announce the formation of The Green Software Foundation – a nonprofit founded by Accenture, GitHub, Microsoft and ThoughtWorks established with the Linux Foundation and the Joint Development Foundation Projects LLC to build a trusted ecosystem of people, standards, tooling and leading practices for building green software. The Green Software Foundation was born out of a mutual desire and need to collaborate across the software industry. Organizations with a shared commitment to sustainability and an interest in green software development principles are encouraged to join the foundation to help grow the field of green software engineering, contribute to standards for the industry, and work together to reduce the carbon emissions of software. The foundation aims to help the software industry contribute to the information and communications technology sector’s broader targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030, in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. YouTube Video Click here to load media Paul Daugherty, group chief executive – Technology and chief technology officer at Accenture, said, “Sustainability is our greatest responsibility, and this is the decade that organizations must deliver on their promises to improve our communities and our planet. Accenture is proud to be a founding member of the Green Software Foundation and we look forward to collaborating with other organizations to evolve the culture of software engineering so sustainability is embedded by design, contributing to a meaningful reduction in the carbon emissions of computing and making a positive impact on the environment.” Erica Brescia, chief operating officer, GitHub, said, “We envision a future where carbon-free software is standard—where software development, deployment, and use contribute to the global climate solution without every developer having to be an expert. GitHub is proud to be a founding member of the Green Software Foundation and we remain committed to building an environmentally sustainable home for all developers.” Mike Dolan, general manager and senior vice president, the Linux Foundation, said “The software industry and open source software community have both the opportunity and ability to build digital infrastructure with the least possible impact to our environment. We are happy to support the Green Software Foundation and its mission to build a neutral ecosystem for collaboration on standards, tooling and best practices for green software.” Brad Smith, president, Microsoft, added, “The scientific consensus is clear: the world confronts an urgent carbon problem. It will take all of us working together to create innovative solutions to drastically reduce emissions. Today, Microsoft is joining with organizations who are serious about an environmentally sustainable future to drive adoption of green software development to help our customers and partners around the world reduce their carbon footprint.” Guo Xiao, president and chief executive officer, ThoughtWorks, said, “Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges faced by humanity and the tech sector contributes a rapidly escalating amount of emissions. At ThoughtWorks, we believe that issues like climate change can only be resolved through global solidarity. Thus, in addition to taking action on our own footprint with our commitment to the Science Based Target initiative, we are joining the Green Software Foundation as founding members to help our clients, partners and the broader industry drive toward a more sustainable future together. Alongside founding members, Accenture, GitHub, Microsoft and ThoughtWorks, Goldman Sachs and nonprofits including Leaders for Climate Action, Watt Time and The Green Web Foundation have also joined The Green Software Foundation. https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2021/05/5-25-2nd-Green-Software_Sc_7.png The purpose of the Green Software Foundation: Establish green software industry standards: The foundation will create and publish green software standards, green patterns and practices across various computing disciplines and technology domains. The group will encourage voluntary adoption and help guide government policy toward those standards for a consistent approach for measuring and reporting green software emissions. Accelerate innovation: To grow the green software field, we need to nurture the creation of trusted open-source and open-data projects that support the creation of green software applications. The foundation will work alongside our nonprofit partners and academia to support research into green software. Drive awareness and grow advocacy: If we want companies to build greener applications, they need people who know how to build them. As such, one of our key missions is to drive widespread adoption of green software across the industry through ambassador programs, training and education which leads to certification and events to facilitate the growth of green software. To learn more about The Green Software Foundation and becoming a member, visit greensoftware.foundation. The post Accenture, GitHub, Microsoft and ThoughtWorks launch the Green Software Foundation with the Linux Foundation to put sustainability at the core of software engineering appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

This past year has been unlike any other, and developers have been critical to helping businesses in every industry and people everywhere respond and adapt to the challenges of a global pandemic. Developers have never been more important to the world – and it is increasingly clear that they are the next generation of digital creators. As a company built by developers and for developers, our goal at Microsoft is to provide them with the agility to address the real-world needs of their customers. Developers and their teams need best-in-class tools and services that help them reduce the time it takes to go from an idea to value. Our ambition is to be the platform for platform creators and empower developers to build what comes next. Microsoft has the richest developer tools in the world with the Visual Studio family, GitHub, and .NET. The Microsoft Cloud includes offerings such as Azure, Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365 and Power Platform, as well as our end-to-end security, identity and access management solutions. With the Microsoft Cloud, we have an incredibly comprehensive platform that developers can use to build apps and solutions to reach any person on the planet. We build products with developers in mind, which enables us to partner with our customers in their journey to support and accelerate developer velocity. Over 95% of the world’s largest companies are running their businesses on the Microsoft Cloud today. As industries are being stretched in new ways, public cloud adoption is a key ingredient to enable this type of essential transformation. Our goal with the Microsoft Cloud is to help our customers explore the art of the possible. Deeply understanding the unique experience of our customers, and learning key lessons from digital leaders on how they are reinventing the value they drive through building applications, is a fundamental part of our continued effort to recognize how organizations can accelerate business performance. Throughout the Microsoft Build 2021 event, many of our customers will share how they are digitally transforming and reimagining how they engage with their employees and customers with the Microsoft Cloud. We are also sharing our latest Microsoft Cloud and Developer Tooling innovations, and how we are helping developers to build productively, collaborate securely and innovate at scale — no matter where they are. Build productively Microsoft has the world’s most beloved developer tools with Visual Studio, and with GitHub hosts the developer community where the world comes together to build software. Developers can use their favorite languages, open-source frameworks, and tools to code and deploy code to the cloud from anywhere, collaborating in a secure way, and integrating different components in no time with low-code solutions. Visual Studio continues to be the favorite developer tool for professional developers worldwide with over 25 million monthly users. Today, the latest update of Visual Studio 2019 is generally available, and it includes productivity enhancements for .NET and C++ development, enhanced built-in Git tooling, support for creating GitHub Actions workflows directly from the IDE, improved container tooling and new Azure integrations for cloud development. Learn more about the latest innovations on the Visual Studio blog. We recently announced our vision for the next major wave for Visual Studio, Visual Studio 2022, and today we are releasing the roadmap for Visual Studio 2022. As always, we are looking forward to hearing user feedback in our Developer Community to help us build the best IDE we can. We will soon release its first preview with a refreshed look and feel, along with an architecture change to 64-bit, which will provide significant scale and performance improvements for developers who are working with large or complex solutions. Stay tuned for more details! One of the most common pain points for developers is setting up a development environment with everything you need to be productive. GitHub Codespaces enables any GitHub repo to become a fully configured development environment hosted within the cloud in seconds. Codespaces are fully configurable: you can choose how much compute is needed and can customize them to fit the needs of each project. To learn more, sign up for early access. With over 145 million daily active users, Microsoft Teams is the digital platform for work which our customers rely on – integrating apps and business processes where collaboration takes place. With the increasing demand for real-time and asynchronous collaboration scenarios, developers have an opportunity to meet this need by building collaborative apps on Teams, powered by the Microsoft Cloud. New meeting features will enable developers to build innovative scenarios and extend Teams meetings – such as shared stage, Together Mode extensibility and more. And the enhanced Microsoft Teams Toolkit makes coding easier by providing single-line authentication, Azure Functions integration, single-line Microsoft Graph client and more. Learn more about these Teams features at our Microsoft 365 blog post. With over 1.3 billion devices running Windows around the world, it continues to be a platform that you can build on to develop modern apps. To support our developers who build on Windows, we are excited to announce new features in our developer tool offerings that provide increased satisfaction and productivity. You can now use GUI app support on Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) so that all the tools and workflows of Linux run on your developer machine. Windows allows you to work with seamless integrations with any workflow with GUI apps, Linux and GPU-accelerated ML training. Learn more about our Windows announcements at Build. Collaborate globally and securely As companies have been adapting to a remote work or hybrid work environment, collaboration and security remain top of mind. By building on the world’s best open source components and taking open source collaboration practices and applying them inside their organization, leading companies are now able to rapidly adapt to the flexibility required in today’s software development market. Our goal is to enable developers to code, collaborate and ship from anywhere — with even greater enterprise security built-in. With GitHub, developer teams can now bring the collaboration best practices used by over 65 million developers into every organization and enterprise. We continue to innovate in the apps space, and one of the things we take pride in is our fully integrated platform. With Visual Studio, GitHub, and Azure you can code from anywhere with cloud-powered development environments, collaborate smoothly from anywhere with tools that help you work as a distributed team, and securely ship from anywhere, with fully integrated services and tools that enable them to maintain confidence in security despite being remote. A crucial part of this collaboration needs to happen between development and security teams. Rather than addressing vulnerabilities or flaws after shipping any software, development teams need to anticipate and avoid them by integrating security into early stages of the development cycle and ensuring visibility for the security teams. Today, we are announcing a new way to foster shared responsibility and collaboration between development and SecOps teams with the integration of Azure Security Center and GitHub for container scanning — now in public preview. With this integration, you can easily give teams visibility into build and registry container scan results and provide traceability that helps SecOps teams alert you to issues faster. Check out how to kickstart collaborative DevSecOps practices with GitHub and Azure. Scale your innovation Azure provides a broad range of services that enable developers to build, deploy and scale their apps even faster. Our end-to-end platform helps developers focus on apps, not infrastructure. Our latest Azure innovations enable developers to modernize existing apps as well as build cloud-native applications. Modernizing applications is a common trigger for public cloud adoption, and Azure covers broad patterns for application modernization — using VMs, containers and managed databases, or fully managed Platform as a Service (PaaS) services. With some of our recent investments, we are making it easier to modernize enterprise Java applications in Azure. The Microsoft Build of OpenJDK is free and open source and today, it is generally available with commercial support on Azure and Azure Stack. Red Hat JBoss EAP is now available on Azure Virtual Machines, allowing developers to scale apps with VM Scale Sets, and IBM WebSphere is also available on Azure Virtual Machines now with automated solution templates to simplify its deployment. To learn more about our latest innovation for Java on Azure, read this blog post. Increasingly, we are also seeing customers innovate at a faster pace by using cloud-native technologies. Today, we are excited to announce the preview capabilities of Azure application services to run on Kubernetes and anywhere with Azure Arc. You can now run your favorite Azure application services – which include Azure App Service, Azure Functions, Azure Logic Apps, Azure API Management, Azure Event Grid – anywhere, including on-premises, on the edge, and on other clouds such as AWS or Google. Any Kubernetes cluster connected through Azure Arc is now a supported deployment target for Azure’s application services. For customers who are looking for a managed Kubernetes control plane, today we are also excited to announce the general availability of AKS on Azure Stack HCI. To learn more about cloud-native applications that run anywhere, read this blog post. To make it incredibly easy for developers to build and modernize high-performance apps at any scale, today we announced new innovations to Azure Cosmos DB including the general availability of Cosmos DB Serverless. Azure also makes it easy for you to add artificial intelligence (AI) to applications with Azure Cognitive Services. Today, we are also excited to announce several new capabilities including new category of services called Azure Applied AI services. These services combine Azure Cognitive Services with task-specific AI and business logic, so developers can accelerate building AI solutions for common scenarios, such as document processing, customer service and extracting insights from content. Learn more about our latest innovation on cloud-native applications by harnessing the power of Data & AI in this blog post. Professional developers can collaborate with other teams to expand the reach of their work. You can use multiple Azure services to create cloud-native applications and building blocks that empower even more developers in their organization. Traditional code-first development struggles to scale to support growing demand, which is why many pro developers are looking for ways to blend code-first tools with low-code tools, like Power Apps, to accelerate their workflow and delivery of business apps as well as help them focus on initiatives that have most impact with code-first approaches. We are also making it possible for users to build apps using natural language without needing to know how to write computer code or formulas, with Power Fx. Powered by GPT-3 AI, the world’s largest natural language model, this update in Power Fx brings an intuitive AI-assisted maker experience so developers and other users can accelerate app development. Today we are also bringing Power Fx to model app builders with support for Model Driven Commanding and Dataverse Calculated Columns. Learn more about this update. Today, we are announcing new extensions to further unlock the power of the Visual Studio family and the Power Platform together. The Visual Studio extension for Power Platform allows developers to publish APIs in Azure API Management while deploying a Power Platform connector, removing barriers and friction. And the VS Code extension for Power Platform enables native extensibility for Power Platform CLI publication directly from VS Code, as well as the capability to configure portals using VS Code and CLI — including IntelliSense support for code completion, assistance and hinting while customizing portals. Learn more about these new extensions. Build applications with best-in-class tools and the Microsoft Cloud Modern developers need modern solutions to meet the requirements of this rapidly changing landscape. It remains our mission to empower every developer on their terms – using the tools, languages and platform of their choice. Microsoft provides best-in-class tools and a cloud platform with a unique set of capabilities that enable developers to build the next generation of applications. Microsoft Build is about celebrating the role of the developer community in shaping what comes next. Please join us at the Microsoft Build 2021 digital event and watch the Increase Developer Velocity with the Microsoft end-to-end developer platform session to learn more about these announcements, and more. I can’t wait to see what you create. The post Microsoft ❤️ developers: Welcome to Build 2021 appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

With Build 2021 upon us, I’ve been reflecting on the devastation and ingenuity brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a year of unprecedented challenge, we’ve seen extraordinary resilience, imagination and innovation. Developers all over the world have been working together to use technology as a force for good as they built new platforms to accelerate remote learning, scaled telehealth, and facilitated business resilience in the face of daunting constraints. They have challenged us to think differently about who “developers” are and who they will need to be. They are building so much more than apps – they are creating digital experiences in response to unanticipated disruption, allowing us all to continue to power forward and reimagine our future. Those who create with technology have earned a much more expansive term than “developer.” software developer, DevOps engineer, data scientist, user researcher, interaction designer, business analyst – are just some of the job titles of people who create with technology. They are motivated to fix things, to share insights, to reduce pain points, to make things better. Today’s developers, in all their different roles, are inspired creators. This more expansive view of who is empowered to create must be accompanied by a discussion of what skills are needed. Empowering more people to create with technology through more accessible tools, support for learning new technologies, and scaling through collaboration are so important now that developers are more in demand than ever. So, let’s talk about how today’s digital creators can empower themselves, their organizations and their communities to explore the art of the possible and take their ideas from code to the cloud so they can impact the 7 billion-plus people around the world. Our software reflects our culture and our humanity Modern coding is inherently social. Developers typically spend 30% of their time alone and another 70% on collaboration and interaction with others including non-developers. Modern digital experiences are built collaboratively by teams of developers and other adjacent disciplines. The status quo of how teams collaborate has been upended with the geographic isolation brought on by the shift to hybrid work environments. What we’ve seen during the rapid digital transformation brought on by COVID-19 is a massive case study on pivoting, adapting and flexibly changing course. The hybrid workplace has blurred the boundaries of work and life. Each of us are now virtually invited into our coworkers’ homes, many are working unconventional hours to accommodate domestic duties and support school-age children, and people are starting jobs without ever having met their colleagues in real life. In fact, according to LinkedIn, over the past 12 months the percentage of developer job postings that were remote increased nearly 8x year over year. And yet we keep on truckin! But I see a reckoning coming. What’s dramatically different about the new virtual workplace is that there is less of an opportunity to learn about one another as humans to build social capital which becomes so necessary at points of tension and disagreement. This is further compounded by the added stress of a global pandemic and racial violence. As a result, tempers get short, flare-ups are more difficult to resolve, and people lose the resolve to continue to collaborate. Creators need to connect with their colleagues to learn about one another and make space for the role that the ability to focus, emotions, and play in the creation process. Having these conversions is crucial to improving personal impact, team output, creativity and pivoting when encountering setbacks. It all starts with empathetic listening. A team that masters the skills of empathetic listening is a team that can resolve conflict, is better able to respond to customer feedback, and accepts that the best ideas might come from the most unexpected places. Teams with an inclusive culture that value create a better environment in which people with different perspectives, cultures and styles can thrive. The skills and perspectives we bring to creating digital products are also reflected in the experiences that we ultimately deliver. The only way that we can build technology for everyone is by ensuring it is built by everyone. To build for the diversity of humanity, we need to have an industry filled with people of all backgrounds. How do we achieve this? Code is both a verb and a noun. We code in how the software works and what it looks like. Just as we code in features, we must code in our values and culture too. We work hard on our culture to foster a community of belongingness, inclusion, encouragement and support. We put a lot of effort into our computer science education efforts to teach these skills to upcoming developers. Those who are able create with technology will write our future and shape our history. Everyone, everywhere, should have access to be able to master the skills needed to create and a voice in what we create. And we’re making progress: I’ve been so inspired to see that Nigeria, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh and Egypt topped the list of new contributors to GitHub in 2020, according to the Octoverse 2020 report. As an Imagine Cup World Finals judge earlier this month, I had the opportunity to see brilliant students from all over the world building incredible solutions for our annual developer student skilling competition. A team from Poland built Intelligent Hives which better supports beekeepers keep healthy hives, which in turn supports better crop yield. A team from India created “Vision” to help visually impaired people become more autonomous. Students from New Zealand came up with an intelligent ear tag for cows called ProTag for better monitoring of livestock welfare. Students from Nepal developed Pico Sat which provides better real-time insight about the pollution of local surroundings. Teams from the United States aspired to improve access to technical learning with remote-first hardware labs and create better diagnoses for Parkinson’s. Creating is learning and unlearning. Inventing and reinventing. I admire the tenacity of developers. Hundreds of times a day, developers confront bugs, compiler errors, poorly documented interfaces and misconfigured environments all while trying to wrangle technology that’s often brand new to them. Developers embody a growth mindset because failure is an expected part of the process. Struggle, practice, challenge, feedback and discomfort are normal. Developers are experts in learning how to react to and recover from unexpected disruptions or setbacks. Understanding and naming what is happening, disentangling what we do and do not have control over, and regrouping with new strategies are all core parts of the perseverance of the development process so we can pivot not panic when faced with challenges. Another skill is “unlearning.” For developers, that might be most recognizable when you’ve come to change your perspective about last year’s hot web user interface framework. You’ve come to realize that it wasn’t working for you the way that you needed – that there is a better way to get the job done. In the shift to hybrid work we need to make space for reflection and newfound awareness about what serves us, what doesn’t, and what habits or behaviors might need to be unlearned to move forward in a way where we create, manage and maintain social connections so we can create the best experiences possible for our customers. At Microsoft, it’s our responsibility to take a fresh look at the state of how developers engage with the world around them – how you learn, consume, create, play, get stuff done and flow from thinking to making. It’s up to us to create technology that meets you where you are and gets you to where you want to go. YouTube Video Click here to load media Creating by focusing on the code that matters Earlier I spoke about writing the code that matters. A few years ago, as I was making a transition to a new role, a mentor said to me, “Be careful – everyone will want some of your time. Be sure you’re pursuing your agenda.” It’s so easy to let our calendars run away from us – to get bogged down in the trivial, mundane and tedious. The same is true in coding. Anyone who has spent time coding recognizes how crucial it is to achieve focus and stay in the zone. Ultimately, focus time is the most precious commodity for a developer as there is always a backlog and the collective backlog for the industry continues to grow. That’s why it’s more important than ever that we’re focusing on code that matters – in other words, the code that only you can write, the code that’s going to make a material difference in the impact for the lives of our end users. Every keystroke counts and that’s why it just makes sense that more projects start with Open Source, that professional developers are empowering others to rapidly create with low-code tools, and personal and team productivity are paramount. Professional developers and domain experts will continue to work more closely together to build all kinds of solutions. Building our future by sharing stories of inspired creators When people ask me about my job, I often say that it’s half anthropology and half craftsmanship. Anthropology because we study how and why people use the tools they use. Craftsmanship because we continuously hone the tools we build to better serve our users. When reflecting on the opportunity to tell our story at a conference like Build, I’m reminded of a saying by an influential cultural anthropologist, Clifford Geertz, who suggested that the definition of a culture is the “stories we tell ourselves about ourselves.” This acknowledges the importance of stories – the stories of our generation, of the industry in this pivotal moment, and the culture we aspire to achieve. Stories matter when we’re building technology – It’s your stories that bring the human factor into the work we do. Your stories help our engineering teams understand why we build the things we build and they connect us to the people we serve. Stories allow us to build empathy for the experiences of others – our customers and our colleagues. Keeping these stories at the heart of development ensures we continue to write code that matters. It’s your stories that turn us into inspired creators. At Build you will hear stories about navigating change and the role that technology can play. I invite you to share your experience as you’ve seen the role of developers evolve. I look forward to continuing to learn from you. The post From developers to inspired creators appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

Gamers and creators who want speed and power for intensive multitasking can check out the latest Razer Blade 15 Advanced Model lineup, which comes with the new 11th Gen Intel Core H-Series Processor up to an Intel Core i9, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30-Series Laptop GPU and displays with up to 360Hz. This Windows 10 lineup comes equipped with FHD 360Hz displays for gamers who want a high speed advantage, or QHD 240Hz displays with 100% DCI-P3 colors for content creators who also want to game in their downtime. For the first time ever, the 4K OLED version will harness the power of the Intel Core i9 Processor. This new iteration of Blade laptops comes with updates to better help your work-at-home lifestyle. Whether you are on Skype or Microsoft Teams, the 4-array microphone captures your voice clearly so collaboration can be as efficient as possible. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/05/Razer-Blade-15-Advanced-4K-OLED-Mid-2021-NEON-7-1024x576.jpg There are features that have been included for those on the go. With its CNC Anodized Aluminum body, the Blade 15 is durable against your day-to-day wear and tear. Say goodbye to oily smudges with its new Anti-Fingerprint resistive coating. These laptops also include an array of connectivity options, including Wi-Fi 6E, Thunderbolt 4, USB-C and a full-sized SD card reader. The new Razer Blade 15 Advanced Model is available starting from $2,299. For more information visit Razer. Continue reading...

If you’re looking to refresh your PC game, HP has a new lineup that includes the OMEN 16, OMEN 17 and the customizable OMEN 25i Gaming Monitor. For players starting their PC gaming journey, the company also debuted Victus by HP, with a 16-inch laptop. This Windows 10 portfolio is designed to entertain, connect and empower veteran gamers as well as enthusiast explorers. OMEN 16 brings the latest games to life with the graphics power of up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Laptop GPU 8 GB or AMD RDNA 2 architecture-based graphics. Crush content with up to Intel Core i7-11800H7 or AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX8 series processors. Quickly use multiple apps with up to 32GB DDR4 3200 MHz. Meanwhile, battery capacity has increased up to 9 hours [1]. It’s expected to be available in June via HP.com and Best Buy for a starting price of $1,049.99. OMEN 17 arrives with desktop-grade specs to help gamers progress through the latest AAA hits with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 16 Laptop GPU GB with a TGP maximum up to 165W and up to Intel Core i9-11900H processor. Experience cooler and more comfortable play thanks to the addition of 24 more blades that are 17% thinner, which contributes to a -5°C reduction in temperature on the keyboard surface deck compared to the previous generation [2]. This is also the first OMEN Laptop to feature optical mechanical keys. On top of a tactile feel, the keys provide a 1.7mm travel distance with 0.2ms response time compared to traditional keys – which helps deliver an edge in one-on-one encounters. It’s expected to be available in June via HP.com and other retailers for a starting price of $1,369.99. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/05/dd5ROVfAomen-1024x870.jpeg The OMEN 25i Gaming Monitor is OMEN’s first gaming monitor to feature HP Eye Ease with Eyesafe certification to reduce eye stain while playing. This hardware enabled low-blue light solution is built right into the display, so there is no need to adjust settings or fret about a compromised color experience thanks to a 30% reduction of excessive blue light compared with a standard LCD display. With the Game Remastered Mode [3], relive old school PC games or hook up a console via HDMI to experience classics like never before. This monitor is expected to be available in July via HP.com and other retailers for a starting price of $349.99. Head over to HP for more information. [1] Based on HP Internal video playback testing in April 2021 with the new OMEN 16. New OMEN 16 configuration with Intel Core i7-11800H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, 32GB RAM. Windows 10 battery life will vary depending on various factors including product model, configuration, loaded applications, features, use, wireless functionality and power management settings. The maximum capacity of the battery will naturally decrease with time and usage. See www.bapco.com for additional details. [2] One hour testing on the same environment, same power delivery and same acoustic environment gen to gen comparison: New OMEN 17 41.4 degree on C deck and last gen OMEN 17 46.4 degree on C deck. [3] Based on HP's internal analysis of monitors marketed to gamers that have resolution enhancement for legacy games as of Jan. 5, 2021). Continue reading...

At Microsoft, one of our core principles is “extend to many” as we design products to empower everyone on the planet. As described in a new article on the Windows Resource Center, Microsoft believes technology and accessibility are inseparable, and features should help your computer adapt to you, not the other way around. Head over to the post for examples, including Dictation to give your hands a rest from typing, making Windows easier to see with adjustable text and contrast, ways to avoid distracting notifications, and a wide range of other accessibility features that improve computing for everyone. And be sure to check out your chance to turn your Microsoft Bing searches into donations to Special Olympics or other causes. Continue reading...

Today we celebrate the 10th annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). As we at Microsoft reflect on GAAD, it can’t be ignored that this past year has made advancing accessibility initiatives more important than ever. COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on people with disabilities, widening what the World Bank termed the “Disability Divide,” the gap in societal inclusion for people with disabilities. GAAD is a time to push to level the playing field for people with disabilities, including ensuring accessibility initiatives are durable and sustainable. This starts with leadership. We were encouraged by the White House announcing its first-ever Director of Disability Policy, Kimberly Knackstedt, and more media outlets hiring reporters specifically to cover the topic of disability. At Microsoft, we recently raised the bar on our end, announcing a five-year commitment to help close the “Disability Divide.” And, we’re not alone. Companies globally are either starting or expanding their accessibility efforts. It’s humbling to see the growth, but there still isn’t enough focus on accessibility and nowhere near enough accessibility leads. More is needed. We know that at Microsoft at least 6.1% of our U.S. employees have a disability. As companies look to “return to normal,” accessibility leads can work within organizations to implement strategies around topics like what “return to work” should look like, particularly for employees with disabilities. As part of our five-year commitment to help close the “Disability Divide,” we focused on three core pillars – accessible technology, talent development and workplace – tied to new skills initiatives, new partnerships and technology investments. I’d like to take a moment to highlight some new and awesome initiatives that have already come from these commitments. First let’s talk technology. Products empower people with disabilities but also empower everyone to be inclusive of the 1 billion-plus people with disabilities around the world. We are focused on building products that are “accessible by design” such as the following: Accessibility in gaming: Xbox released a series of announcements today, continuing their focus to enable more people to play, including the estimated 400 million-plus gamers with disabilities on the planet. Three that jump off the page: New Xbox Accessibility Insider League (XAIL) gives you a simple, streamlined way to provide accessibility feedback directly to Xbox engineering or game development teams. Anyone who self-identifies as a person with disability can join. The refreshed Xbox Insider Hub has been redesigned with accessibility at the forefront, offering a central tool to find experiences and ways to provide critical feedback that developers need. The Xbox Gaming Accessibility team has also created a Gaming and Disability Player Experience Guide that outlines common game accessibility barriers experienced by players across a wide spectrum of disabilities, including situational disabilities. A long list of new features both in Xbox and games including Gears 5 and Minecraft. Xbox Party Chat will soon support transcribing speech into text and synthesis of speech from text. Gears 5 now has “navigation ping” in escape mode, audio cues that power up blind and low vision gamers to navigate in the game. For more, do check out the details in: Xbox Accessibility GAAD announcement. [*]Accessibility made seamless and inclusive: Accessibility is a responsibility we all have whether it is creating a product, data source, document or support channel. I am excited by some of the advances including: Simone Stumpf leads ORBIT (Object Recognition for Blind Image Training), collecting data from the blind and low vision community to enable artificial intelligence (AI) to identify personalized objects. This is important work, helping to tackle the disability data desert, the lack of data from people with disabilities to ensure that AI is more precise and useful to everyone. Read about Simone’s story. New Outlook MailTip feature, live today and will prompt and guide you on how to be accessible, correcting any issues before sending an email to a large distribution list. Coming soon, background accessibility checker feature, checking your document, email or presentation for accessibility as you write it. We launched Disability Answer Desk with American Sign Language (ASL) support for our deaf customers back in 2015 and introduced ASL Support for Microsoft stores in April to help customers with their buying experience. Today, we are launching Be My Eyes Support for LinkedIn to help answer product and accessibility questions. The #BuildFor2030 campaign includes our AI for Accessibility grantee WeWALK, which produced a smart cane to enhance the mobility of people who are blind or have low vision through accessible navigation and exploration via voice commands straight from the cane. Learn more about WeWALK and our other AI for Accessibility projects. Next, we need a global workforce that better represents people with disabilities. Talent development is one of our core goals as people with disabilities need equitable access to education and job opportunities. Two examples include: Working with 11 partners to improve accessibility and inclusivity in the classrooms by engaging students to drive improved learning outcomes. One of those is Lexplore which provides K-12 educators a full reading assessment in just 3-5 minutes using AI and eye-tracking technology. And Made by Dyslexia which launched training to help identify and support the 1 in 5 students with dyslexia in the classroom. The APAC enabler program has helped 110 people with disabilities across six countries to find roles within the first seven months since launch. Employers are provided cloud and AI training and accessibility education for employer partners, and inclusive hiring from non-profit organizations supporting people with disabilities. In India, a new skilling initiative is helping create job opportunities in the financial sector. At Microsoft, our ambition is to fully represent the population of people with disabilities across the globe, and we take that seriously. I’ve said it many times, but this is a journey, and we continue to embed accessibility and disability inclusion into our company DNA. We encourage all employees to bring their authentic selves to work, to self-identify with a disability, to share and advocate for themselves and colleagues. Here is a video from Kathleen Hogan, our Chief People Officer, who shared her personal journey at our 11th annual , where 12,000 people met virtually to talk about the future of accessibility and disability inclusion. I am especially humbled and proud to be part of a company that sees disability as a strength and as a part of being human. Today, Microsoft offices in the U.K., Canada, Sweden and around the world are also sharing their exciting inclusion efforts. Closing the “Disability Divide” will take all of us to succeed. So, I leave you with an ask. Today, invest your time and grow your knowledge. Take one of the many courses on accessibility such as our accessibility fundamentals course or the new LinkedIn’s video series on Digital Accessibility for the Modern Workplace and head to aka.ms/AccessibilityCommitment to learn more. The post Honoring Global Accessibility Awareness Day with a call to action appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

Ryogo Toyoda is now a successful 3D illustrator based in Tokyo, but he began with more traditional influences. Drawing comics and picture books since he was in kindergarten, he gradually added the manga style to his creations in elementary school. Growing up in Japan, video games and anime would also figure prominently in his artistic development. He went on to graphic design school, where he learned layout, color, typography and how to make concepts for advertisements. After graduation, he worked at a production company as a graphic designer and on the front lines of advertising and web design. That would lead to starting his own business, when his self-taught hobby of illustrating in 3D turned into a career. “I have wandered through many different industries, and I think that such a complex career has given me the style I have today,” says Toyoda. His eclectic portfolio comes from a mindset that embraces constant evolution. “I try to take on a new challenge each time,” he says. “In general, most artists continue to create in one style. But that makes it difficult to keep growing, so I try to keep updating my style.” [caption id=attachment_175687" align="aligncenter" width="1024]https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/05/Ryogo_7.jpg Ryogo Toyoda working on his ASUS devices at home (Photo courtesy of ASUS)[/caption] At home, he uses a 27-inch ProArt Display and because rendering time has to be fast, he must have ASUS graphics cards as well. “The slightest color error in my work can affect the viewer's impression,” he says. “When doing this as a job, it is important to check the colors in the correct working environment. When I used a different monitor, the colors sometimes looked different between the client's PC and my PC. When creating CG for actual products, the colors of the products must be accurately represented. When creating a package design, if the color changes even slightly, it will affect the sales and brand image of the product.” Toyoda says that while every artist chooses a PC that suits his or her working style, he appreciates the advantages of using a Windows PC. “Most 3D artists use Windows PCs because 3D drawing and rendering is too demanding for other computers,” he says. “The advantage of a Windows PC is that you can freely choose the CPU, graphics board and memory capacity. I also appreciate that Windows supports a lot of software.” He engages a variety of software for 3D production, such as Cinema4D (his main tool), Octane Render for rendering, Zbrush for sculpting and Marvelous Designer for cloth simulation. “If I didn't have these devices and software, I wouldn't be able to do what I do. I sometimes draw 2D concept art as well as 3D, and it would be difficult to work with only analog materials for 2D work as well,” he says. “I will continue to actively use technology to create even better work.” Lead photo: Artwork by Ryogo Toyoda (Courtesy of artist) Continue reading...

한국어 블로그와 FAQ는, 여기를 참조하세요. 本ブログの日本語版はこちらです。 Over the last year, you may have noticed our movement away from Internet Explorer (“IE”) support, such as an announcement of the end of IE support by Microsoft 365 online services. Today, we are at the next stage of that journey: we are announcing that the future of Internet Explorer on Windows 10 is in Microsoft Edge. Not only is Microsoft Edge a faster, more secure and more modern browsing experience than Internet Explorer, but it is also able to address a key concern: compatibility for older, legacy websites and applications. Microsoft Edge has Internet Explorer mode (“IE mode”) built in, so you can access those legacy Internet Explorer-based websites and applications straight from Microsoft Edge. With Microsoft Edge capable of assuming this responsibility and more, the Internet Explorer 11 desktop application will be retired and go out of support on June 15, 2022, for certain versions of Windows 10. Note: This retirement does not affect in-market Windows 10 LTSC or Server Internet Explorer 11 desktop applications. It also does not affect the MSHTML (Trident) engine. For a full list of what is in scope for this announcement, and for other technical questions, please see our FAQ. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/05/Timeline_image2-1024x307.jpg With Microsoft Edge, we provide a path to the web’s future while still respecting the web’s past. Change was necessary, but we didn’t want to leave reliable, still-functioning websites and applications behind. We’re here to help you transition to the more comprehensive browsing experience of Microsoft Edge and tell you a bit more about why we think it will address your needs, both at home and at work. Reason #1 – Improved compatibility With Microsoft Edge, you get a dual engine advantage that supports both legacy and modern websites. Internet Explorer mode gives you built-in legacy browser support for websites and applications that still require Internet Explorer. In fact, Microsoft Edge is the only browser with built-in compatibility for legacy Internet Explorer-based websites and applications, including support for functionality like ActiveX controls. Microsoft Edge is also built on the Chromium project – the technology that powers many of today’s browsers – which means it delivers world-class support for modern sites. With the dual engine advantage, you get the best of web, both past and future. Reason #2 – Streamlined productivity Having to use different browsers for different tasks can be frustrating. You may want to stay in a modern browser, but a public website or internal work app may only work in Internet Explorer. That’s where Microsoft Edge comes in. Its dual engine advantage streamlines your productivity. Instead of using “this browser for this site” and “that browser for that site,” now you can just use Microsoft Edge. Microsoft Edge also offers new, modern features that you can’t find in Internet Explorer. Do dozens of tabs slow your computer down? Use Sleeping tabs to free up resources. Are those same tabs impossible to read along the top of your browser? Move them to the side and make them easier to read with Vertical tabs. Wish your Favorites were more than just links? It’s easier to collect and organize information you find across the web with Collections. Do you like using different browsers for work and personal use? Try setting up different profiles within Microsoft Edge and just use it instead. And those are just the start. Reason #3 – Better browser security Roughly 579 password attacks are attempted every second—you need a browser that’s up to this challenge. Microsoft Edge offers the highest-rated protection against both phishing attacks and malware on Windows 10 with Microsoft Defender SmartScreen. It also offers Password Monitor, which scans the dark web to identify if your personal credentials have been compromised. And with tie-ins to the Microsoft 365 Security suite, Microsoft Edge is even better for organizations: Microsoft Edge is more secure than Chrome for businesses on Windows 10. In today’s evolved security landscape, it’s also important that Microsoft Edge is more agile when responding to security vulnerabilities. While Internet Explorer 11 packaged security updates monthly, Microsoft Edge can issue security patches for immediate vulnerabilities within days, if not hours. If Internet Explorer has been your go-to for years, Microsoft Edge can now be your trusted web companion for improved compatibility, streamlined productivity and better browser security. How this impacts you If you’re a consumer using Internet Explorer at home, we recommend you transition to Microsoft Edge before June 15, 2022, to start enjoying a faster, more secure and more modern browsing experience. The good news: you probably already have it on your device. Search for “Microsoft Edge” using the Windows 10 search box or look for the icon (see the top of this article). If you don’t have it, you can easily download it here. We’ve also aimed to make the upgrade to Microsoft Edge simple. Once you’ve opted in to moving to Microsoft Edge, it’s easy to bring over your passwords, favorites and other browsing data from Internet Explorer in a few clicks. And if you run into a site that needs Internet Explorer to open, Microsoft Edge has Internet Explorer mode built-in so you can still access it. If you’re an organization using Internet Explorer, you may have a surprisingly large set of legacy Internet Explorer-based websites and apps, built up over many years. In fact, we found that enterprises have 1,678 legacy apps on average.1 By moving to Microsoft Edge, you get everything described above plus you’ll be able to extend the life of your legacy websites and apps well beyond the Internet Explorer 11 desktop application retirement date using IE mode. Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge will be supported through at least 2029. To prepare your organization for June 15, 2022, we recommend the following three steps to begin setting up Microsoft Edge with Internet Explorer mode: Check out the Internet Explorer mode website for more details. Get a custom cost-benefit analysis of Microsoft Edge and IE mode for your organization, with a Forrester Consulting Total Economic Impact™ estimation tool, and access the Getting Started guide. Read the Getting Started guide for helpful check lists, instructional videos and links to no-cost support like FastTrack and App Assure who can help you with deployment as well as website and application compatibility. Reuse your Enterprise Mode Site List from Internet Explorer if you already have one. Reusing your Enterprise Mode Site List means you’re already on your way to setting up IE mode. If you don’t have one, create one using this Configure IE mode tool. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/05/ConfigureIEmodetool_image-1024x576.jpg Our tools and documentation outline best practices for rolling out Microsoft Edge with IE mode. You can also learn from others who have already made the move—read about how GlaxoSmithKline rolled out Microsoft Edge with Internet Explorer mode in their organization of 130,000 employees globally and have made Microsoft Edge their default browser. If you’re a web developer working on a modern website or app, we know you’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. Internet Explorer has increasingly been difficult to support side-by-side with modern browsers. With this change, enterprises and consumers will be able to limit their use of Internet Explorer to only those legacy sites that absolutely need it. While this is a welcome change that will save you time and money as a web developer, it will take time for users to transition away from Internet Explorer, so we recommend you plan an orderly movement to end Internet Explorer support based on your users’ needs. When you are ready, we can also help ease the transition. Microsoft Edge has built-in support to move your users seamlessly, including retaining history, tabs, passwords, signed-in state and other settings so they can have an uninterrupted experience with your site. Send us a note when you’re ready (ietoedge@microsoft.com) and we can add your IE site to our list which will enable this transition experience. Learn more about how we can help your IE users switch smoothly. The future of Internet Explorer on Windows 10 is in Microsoft Edge We can’t thank everyone enough for supporting Internet Explorer over the years. Many people and organizations around the world have depended on IE to support them as they’ve learned, grown and conducted business online. Microsoft Edge with Internet Explorer mode inherits this important responsibility, and we look forward to supporting you online with Microsoft Edge. 1 Based on a commissioned survey of 40 enterprise decision-makers conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Microsoft, February 2021. Actual costs may vary based on complexity, location and other factors. The Total Economic Impact™ of Microsoft Edge, a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting, May 2021. Continue reading...

Today marks the beginning of Windows 10, version 21H1 availability. As I noted when we first announced the May 2021 Update in February, we grounded this update on the needs expressed by you, our customers, over the past year of continued remote work, learning and play. The May 2021 Update is purposely scoped to deliver important features that improve security, remote access and quality—and engineered to provide a fast update experience. We have released and evaluated preview builds through the Windows Insider Program over the past months and, based on the feedback gathered from our Insider community, we are now ready to begin a phased rollout. My post today shares details on our measured rollout approach, how you can get the update and some overall information on Windows. Our approach to update availability and rollout In the current environment, we know that you continue to rely on your PCs more than ever. As a result, we are initially taking a measured seeker-based approach to the rollout of the May 2021 Update. We are throttling availability up over the coming weeks to ensure a reliable download experience for all, so the update may not be offered to you right away. Additionally, some devices might have a compatibility issue for which a safeguard hold is in place. In these cases, we will not offer the update until we are confident that you will have a good update experience. How to get the Windows 10 May 2021 Update The May 2021 Update is available initially to select devices running Windows 10, version 2004 or later who are interested in experiencing the latest feature updates and are ready to install this release on their device. If you would like to install the new release, open your Windows Update settings (Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update) and select Check for updates. If the update appears, you can simply select Download and install to get started. Once the download is complete and the update is ready to install, we’ll notify you so that you can pick the right time to finish the installation and reboot your device, ensuring that the update does not disrupt your activities. Devices running either Windows 10, version 2004 or version 20H2 will have a fast overall update experience because the update will install like a monthly update. For more information on how to get the May 2021 Update, watch this video. To learn more about the status of the May 2021 Update rollout, safeguard holds and which holds may be applied to your device, visit Windows release health. Information for commercial customers As a first half (H1) of the calendar year release, all editions of the May 2021 Update (version 21H1) will receive 18 months of servicing and support beginning today. We recommend that commercial organizations begin targeted deployments to validate that their apps, devices and infrastructure work as expected with the new release. The May 2021 Update is now available through Windows Server Update Services (including Configuration Manager), Windows Update for Business and the Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC). You can find more information on IT tools to support Windows 10, version 21H1. Our customer first focus Over the last year, we have shipped three important updates for Windows 10. More importantly, we continue to listen closely to customer feedback to ensure we evolve and adapt Windows to meet your needs today and in the future. In this context, we’ve continued to see fundamental changes in customer needs since we last shared our priorities for Windows in May of 2020. Following a year-long exploration and engaging in conversations with customers, we realized that the technology of Windows 10X could be useful in more ways and serve more customers than we originally imagined. We concluded that the 10X technology shouldn’t just be confined to a subset of customers. Instead of bringing a product called Windows 10X to market in 2021 like we originally intended, we are leveraging learnings from our journey thus far and accelerating the integration of key foundational 10X technology into other parts of Windows and products at the company. In fact, some of this is already reflected in the core of Windows in Windows Insider preview builds, for example the new app container technology we’re integrating into products like Microsoft Defender Application Guard, an enhanced Voice Typing experience, and a modernized touch keyboard with optimized key sizing, sounds, colors and animations. Our teams continue to invest in areas where the 10X technology will help meet our customer needs as well as evaluate technology experiences both in software and hardware that will be useful to our customers in the future. This shift in thinking is an incredible example of the company’s value of a growth mindset at work and exemplifies our customer-first focus. As with each release, we will closely monitor the May 2021 Update experience and share timely information on the current rollout status and known issues (open and resolved) across both feature and monthly updates via the Windows release health hub and @WindowsUpdate. Please continue to tell us about your experience by providing comments or suggestions via Feedback Hub. It may take a day for downloads to be fully available in the Volume Licensing Service Center across all products, markets and languages. Continue reading...

Anticipating that working from home – or at least, not in the office – will continue for the foreseeable future, HP has unveiled the latest ZBook Studio G8, ZBook Fury G8 and ZBook Power G8, which all run on Windows 10. The HP ZBook Studio is designed for performance workflows. Animate in seconds and render or visualize in real time with up to NVIDIA RTX A5000 or GeForce RTX 3080 laptop GPUs and 11th Gen Intel Core i9 vPro processors. [caption id=attachment_175658" align="aligncenter" width="1000]https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/05/ZBook-Power_Aerial-Front-Right_crop-1024x683.jpg ZBook Power[/caption] HP ZBook Studio G8 and HP ZBook Fury G8 are expected to be available in select countries in July, while the HP ZBook Power G8 is expected to be available in select countries in June. These devices reflect HP’s commitment to the environment, with Z by HP adding sustainable products that incorporate ocean-bound plastics and recycled materials, innovating in every aspect from packaging to energy efficiency. Find out more at HP. Continue reading...

Dragon riders! Grab your shiniest shield and tighten your braids to take off for the island of Berk – and all the islands in the Barbaric Archipelago. The DreamWorks How to Train Your Dragon downloadable content is now available for Minecraft for Windows 10. You can fly with all the different dragons, but if you want a change of pace or just prefer a stroll, you can explore on foot as well. A free in-game item is also available. Find out more on Minecraft.net. Continue reading...

Inspired by a thriving creator industry, Dell has debuted new workstations, Windows 10 PCs and accessories designed to help create, play and do more from anywhere – aimed at sound engineers, photographers, animators, architects, fashion curators and those dabbling in VR/AR or 3D printing. [caption id=attachment_175662" align="aligncenter" width="1000]https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/05/Dell_Latitude-5421_various-angles_crop-1024x448.jpg Latitude 5421[/caption] Dell’s 2030 Moonshot goal is a commitment to using renewable and recyclable materials across all product lines. With the new Latitude 5421 and 5521, available in early summer, the company has expanded the use of bioplastics and continues to explore opportunities to integrate more recycled and renewable materials. Read more about Dell’s latest lineup at Dell Technologies Blog. Continue reading...

The Lenovo Legion gaming PC family, which runs on Windows 10, has added some new devices that feature NVIDIA’s latest technologies, powered by the latest 11th Gen Intel Core H-series mobile processors. Among them are the new 16-inch flagship Lenovo Legion 7i, the 16-inch Lenovo Legion 5i Pro and the new 15-inch and 17-inch Lenovo Legion 5i. Esports players can complete their setup with fast-paced, tear-free gameplay through the new Lenovo Legion Y25g-30 IPS gaming monitor with a 360Hz refresh rate. [caption id=attachment_175651" align="aligncenter" width="1024]https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/05/Lenovo-Legion-5i-Pro_Front_Facing_Left_Stingray-Whitecrop-1024x629.jpg Lenovo Legion 5i Pro[/caption] Gamers and content creators can choose the high performance processor they want for superior streaming, low latency, high frames per second (FPS) and near desktop-caliber performance. Windows 10 helps handle the demands of multitasking and heavy workloads, with up to 5GHz turbo frequency for peak performance on multiple cores before overclocking. Thunderbolt 4 supports these Intel-powered gaming laptops for more reliable display connections, quicker charging and data transfers. Thanks to Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6 connectivity [1], which gives players the ability to watch live gaming streams without slowdowns, your laptop doesn’t have to compete for bandwidth on the same wireless channel as other devices. The new Lenovo Legion PCs offer the performance of NVIDIA GeForce RTX Laptop GPUs with the latest ray tracing cinematics. Gamers can enjoy unlimited access to over 100 high-quality PC games for one low monthly price with an included Xbox Game Pass for PC [3]. Not only will subscribers receive exclusive offers and discounts, but they can download and play new games as soon as they’re released [3]. [caption id=attachment_175652" align="aligncenter" width="1024]https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/05/Lenovo-Legion-5i_Front_Angle_17in-1024x1024.jpg Lenovo Legion 5i[/caption] In esports, milliseconds matter, since winning and losing can depend on higher frame rates and lower input latency for faster reaction times. Built to provide gaming professionals a major upgrade in smoothness and increased responsiveness, the new Lenovo Legion Y25g-30 360Hz gaming monitor can be a real game changer for competitive esports play. The monitor comes in a 24.5-inch mid display size for greater concentration, with Eye Comfort technology to reduce eye strain plus lift/tilt and pivot/swivel stand capabilities for ergonomic comfort for late night battles. With a mode for an extreme 1ms response time, it’s powered by NVIDIA G-SYNC and NVIDIA Reflex technologies and engineered to eliminate streaking and ghosting in-game. [caption id=attachment_175656" align="aligncenter" width="972]https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/05/Lenovo-Legion-7i_Back_Ports_crop.jpg Lenovo Legion 7i (back ports)[/caption] The Lenovo Legion 7i laptop with up to 11th Gen Intel Core i9 HK processor will start at $1,769.99. The Lenovo Legion 5i Pro laptop with up to 11th Gen Intel Core i7 H processor will start at $1,329.99. Both are expected to be available starting in June [2]. The Lenovo Legion 5i laptop (available in 15-inch or 17-inch screen sizes) with up to 11th Gen Intel Core i7 H processor will start at $969.99 and is expected to be available starting in July [2]. The Lenovo Legion Y25g-30 gaming monitor with G-SYNC will start at $699.99 and is expected to be available starting in October [2]. Find out more at Lenovo. Lead photo: Lenovo Legion Y25g-30 gaming monitor [1] Requires separately purchased and compatible Wi-Fi 6 router and plan that may vary by location. Additional terms, conditions and/or charges apply. Wi-Fi 6 speeds are typically up to 9.6 Gbps compared to Wi-Fi 5 with up to 3.5 Gbps. Connection speeds will vary due to location, environment, network conditions and other factors. [2] Prices may not include tax and do not include shipping or options and are subject to change without notice; additional terms and conditions apply. Reseller prices may vary. On-shelf dates and color options may vary by geography and products may only be available in selected markets. All offers subject to availability. Lenovo reserves the right to alter product offerings, features and specifications at any time without notice. [3] Only one subscription may be redeemed per Lenovo Legion gaming PC. PCs with Windows 10 must also meet the Game Pass minimum specs, including Intel Core i5 quad core or higher, 8GB system memory or higher, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX/RTX 1050 GPUs or higher with at least 3GB VRAM. Xbox Game Pass comes preloaded on select gaming PCs in select markets, and requires Windows updates and storage space. System requirements vary by game; performance scales with higher-end systems. Titles and the number of games vary over time and by country. Xbox Game Pass discounts are based on Microsoft Store price are not combinable with other offers and cannot be redeemed for cash. Discount offers exclude titles within 30 days of release and are not available with selected titles. Services, features, and other requirements are subject to change. Cancel your auto-renewed membership at any time. Continue reading...

Dell has launched the brand-new Precision 3450 Small Form Factor and Precision 3650 Tower workstations to help creative users bring more of their big ideas and projects to life. [caption id=attachment_175641" align="alignleft" width="300]https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/05/Precision-3650-tower-workstation-300x300.jpeg Dell Precision 3650 workstation tower[/caption] In a blog post, Tom Tobul, vice president of Specialty Client Solutions, Dell Technologies, highlights how Dell Precision workstation users are driving innovation, such as Chris Priddy, owner of Fiveten Giant, which specializes in cutting edge animations, virtual reality models and interactive simulations. He has been using a Dell Precision 3630 Tower workstation. “Most artists don’t want to think about technology, they just want to create art,” Priddy says. “The [Dell Precision] workstation cached the same simulations faster than my other machine, providing me the ability to complete twice the work in the same amount of time.” Read more on the Dell Technologies Blog. Lead image: Dell Precision tower workstations Continue reading...

It has been one year since I shared my personal experience growing up as a Chinese immigrant in a white world and what it meant to me to be an Asian in that world. Early on, I felt a need to try and fit in and gain a sense of belonging, but now I realize it’s more fulfilling to appreciate the value of our differences, cultures and traditions, and the power of uniting in diversity. Since I wrote about my experience, our world has evolved in an unexpected direction, and we are now living in very different circumstances. Many countries are still in an unprecedented health crisis, and against this backdrop, we are also witnessing an alarming rise in unacceptable anti-Asian racism, which is taking a heavy emotional and mental toll on Asian communities. The circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic conveyed new realizations. We learned we need every person on the planet to fight against the virus together to overcome it. I see similarities in the approach we need to take whether we are tackling a global pandemic, hate and violence against the Asian community, or other tragic global events. As individuals and as a society, we all need to unite and fight against anything which is a threat to humankind. Embracing our differences This opportunity and imperative to work together for positive change is what comes to mind when I think of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Being able to advocate for this change is why I choose to continue as a global executive sponsor for our Asians at Microsoft employee resource group (ERG). Our challenges and our strengths are present every day of the year, but this dedicated month affords us an opportunity to reflect and appreciate a rich heritage and historic achievements, while also raising awareness of current issues facing the community. To unite, we first need to respect and accept every person as they are. This individuality is the vitality, energy and joy of life. It is up to us to understand and embrace this uniqueness and nurture it so that we can all live in harmony and peace. I feel privileged to live this uniqueness every day. In addition to my global ERG executive sponsor role I lead a team in Microsoft Finance where I am accountable for creating a diverse and inclusive workforce for professionals spanning over 60 countries and representing many races, ethnicities, religions and cultures. The way we collaborate and support each other to deliver value for our company and for our societies is a constant validation for me that we are stronger together. In my career I haven’t always been surrounded by people who look like me, but I have always been invited to share my unique perspective, challenge the team to be even more global in how they think, and work with teammates who have a curiosity and desire to continue to learn about other cultures and communities. Personally, I have always felt supported and respected as a female leader who is Chinese. And frankly, it’s a feeling more of us should have at work, which is why it’s so important to me that we focus on this work together. For me, being embraced as an individual can mean many things. Sometimes it’s simple acts of thoughtfulness that make a difference, such as when we had to replace an in-person subsidiary visit with a virtual one, and the APAC team sent me a bubble tea-making kit. From a previous visit, they remembered that it’s my favorite drink. This gesture helped me feel connected and like I had a bit of Singapore with me. Learning and growing Microsoft has a strong network of centralized and regional employee resource groups (ERGs). Our finance teams have initiated several local chapters of our broader ERGs as part of the goal to support each other and create a more inclusive society. The impact reminds me that when we come together in intention and action, we can achieve great successes. For example, the Disability India chapter has trained more than 3,000 employees and created a unique mentorship program to build awareness and understanding of physical and intellectual disabilities. They also worked with local universities to host a student summit with over 250 potential candidates, helping them network with our employees and identify where we can speed up the implementation of accessibility and innovation for people with disabilities. Lastly, the team has built deep partnerships with our customers to help them in their accessibility journeys and worked on a digital skilling and advocacy program to better prepare youth living with disabilities for the workforce. I’m confident that if we apply this mindset of harnessing our differences, uniting to learn and working across groups, regions and identities, we can tackle even the biggest problems that divide us as societies. Support in unity Amid the rise in discrimination against Asian Americans and Asians around the world, it’s been encouraging to see allies offer support and solidarity. Earlier in the pandemic, I was on a crowded long train ride and noticed that the seats around me were the only ones available. Since no one chose to take those seats, I can only assume that there must have been a perception that because I was Asian, I had a higher likelihood of transmitting the virus. In recent months, on a rare occasion when my mother left her Washington home to get vaccinated, she and my sister were aggressively approached by a stranger who shouted verbal abuse at them. Both incidents created a range of emotions – isolation, fear, anger, questioning oneself, and even shame. Having heard about many instances shared by others in the community, we need to be aware of how these awful acts can be painful and destabilizing for people who are expected to carry on with their work and personal lives even while experiencing significant fear, stress and anxiety. This is where the support provided by our colleagues is invaluable. In our U.S. Finance team, we have made space for our team to discuss and share experiences with the many issues the country faces across social and racial injustice. I personally felt a sense of togetherness and support during a recent session held to discuss attacks on the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders community. Peaceful rallies and town hall meetings held across the country, many of which have been sponsored by youth and attended by members of our Asian ERG have shown that many are united in fighting against racism and violence across all communities and ethnicities. As one member shared, participating in a recent rally and seeing a broad range of allies “felt empowering, was good for my soul and gave me hope for the future.” This year, I would like to invite you to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with the aspiration to amplify voices, understand the Asian community and embrace all communities around the world. This will help us to realize a world where people can live in harmony and peace by just simply being themselves. As the executive sponsor of the Asians at Microsoft ERG, and as an Asian daughter, wife and mother, I will continue to passionately drive toward this vision. The post Celebrating our differences and uniting for a more inclusive society appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

Microsoft has created a comprehensive set of security measures across its products and services to help keep you and your family safer. These features, outlined in a new post on the Windows Resource Center, are meant to be easy to use and fit your lifestyle. Find out how to use Windows Hello to log on to your device without needing to remember a password – just sign in with your face. Use OneDrive to protect your files even if you lose your device or if it gets hacked. And with the new Kids Mode in Microsoft Edge, protect your children from places on the internet you don’t want them exposed to. Head over to the blog post to find out more. Continue reading...

Every day, people come to Xbox to play, have fun, relax and for self-care to reduce stress. Sometimes, they need someone to take them from a “hot” moment to a calmer state. Thanks to Xbox’s partnership with Crisis Text Line, they can reach out to a mental health resource, if they need it. Every month, Xbox refers people to this nonprofit organization, which provides free, text-based 24/7 support, connecting those in need to a network that includes more than 27,000 trained, volunteer crisis counselors throughout the U.S. “You could think of us as a mental health emergency room,” says Dena Trujillo, interim chief executive officer at Crisis Text Line and a board member for about six years. Their crisis counselors have had 5 million conversations with people since the service launched in August 2013, directly and through a wide array of partnerships. “People come to us with anxiety, isolation, trauma, suicide ideation. We handle the entire range. When people come to us, we have a triage system in place, to get to people that are in the highest and most significant need faster.” Read the rest at Microsoft Stories. Continue reading...

https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2021/05/ZohrehChildhood-Graduation.png At left, Zohreh Khademi at 8 years old; at right, graduating from USC. One of the most difficult and exciting challenges in my life was leaving my family in Iran and moving to the U.S. at 18 years old to pursue my dreams of higher education. As a foreign student, I initially struggled to fit in and find my place. I attended English as a Second Language classes at the same time as I was taking my first university classes at USC in Los Angeles pursuing an engineering degree, all while trying to adapt to an unfamiliar culture and start life on my own. Though I was grateful for the educational opportunity, being separated from my family while Iran was at war for many years was heartbreaking and challenging. Ultimately, my parents and siblings were able to leave Iran and reunite in Los Angeles with me, but they had to leave everything behind and build their life from the ground up. Living through that experience taught me the importance of grit, resilience, and staying strong despite life’s unexpected challenges and obstacles. I am reminded of those qualities and how they can guide us through challenging times and ultimately help us thrive as I consider the theme for this May’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Unity in diversity: Stronger together. Now is a particularly important time to come together. The recent acts of violence and hate against the Asian and Pacific Islander communities in the U.S. and around the world are deeply upsetting. They have caused immense pain and fear both in and for the community, and as executive sponsor for the Asians at Microsoft employee resource group (ERG), I want to express my support and let the community know – I am with you. When hateful acts of violence occur, they are often intended to drive people apart. I hope the recent events can instead unify and strengthen us in diversity. I’m excited to kick off a month that brings us together to recognize and celebrate such a rich and vibrant community representing over 40 countries and over 17 ethnicities, whose contributions and influence have had and continue to have an enduring impact on our collective global culture and history. This month is about embracing the beauty of strength in the collective voices of a unified Asian community – one that is stronger together. It is about recognizing that we can accomplish much more together, lifting up other communities and minority groups. Lastly, it is a month that celebrates the courage of those who have come before us and paved the way to where we are today, and where we are going tomorrow. Reflecting on over four decades in the U.S., my personal, lived experiences as well as the values I grew up with have shaped the way I lead and connect with others. Each of us has a story, and I believe strongly that we need to embrace our roots and remember to have compassion and empathy for one another. We never really know what someone is experiencing, and there is so much beneath the surface of each person that we don’t see. https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2021/05/re_ZohrehKPortraitFullRes-4-300x200.png Zohreh Khademi The opportunity to be an executive sponsor for the Asians at Microsoft ERG was one that I did not have to think twice about. I was unsure about my qualifications as someone who is not Asian, but in learning about the opportunity from the current leadership team I knew I wanted to engage and advocate for those whose collective set of hopes, fears, dreams and challenges require more visibility and allyship than ever. The powerful breadth, depth and diversity of the Asian experience and community is one that I am humbled to learn about and from. This month is about reflecting on the diverse and collective history of oppression and discrimination that all Asians face, celebrating our differences, and being allies in support of all communities. Allyship is about transforming learning into action. It requires personal growth, understanding and empathy, but also showing up and using our voices, in ways both big and small. As this country bears witness to an alarming increase in hate and violence against Asians, discrimination and ongoing issues and struggles perpetuated by racial bias, it requires leadership within all of us and working together on these issues to make a difference. I am committed to learning from our employees globally and taking action to make our workplace more inclusive, through investing in mentorship and career development, partnering with Microsoft recruiting to bring in talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences and beyond. I don’t have answers to all the questions and challenges, but I aspire to lead with compassion and empathy to help us continue to support each other and thrive. In this role I hope to amplify and celebrate all the ways that Asians at Microsoft contribute to our culture and achievements, across our company, industry and society. It has already been an incredible and deeply humbling privilege to learn and have deeper conversations about the lived experiences of our Asian colleagues as we’ve begun this month of reflection, recognition and action. I look forward to what this community will do and achieve together, stronger in our unity and diversity. The post Unity in diversity: Stronger together appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

“If you were to walk the (virtual) halls at Xbox today, I think you’d find that to us, the idea of the ‘player’ has come to mean someone who plays many kinds of games on many different devices. PC gaming is part of this,” writes Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios, on Xbox Wire. In this post, he goes over investments across the PC gaming ecosystem, including the launch of several games over the past 18 months: Age of Empires II and III DE, Gears Tactics, Wasteland 3, Minecraft Dungeons and Microsoft Flight Simulator. Head over to Xbox Wire to read more about those games, multiplayer cross-play, Xbox Cloud Gaming, multiple storefronts and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Continue reading...

In a blog post on the Dell Technologies Blog, Meghana Patwardhan explores a day in the life of a mobile professional working with the new Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable Windows 10 laptop, which comes with a fast charging stylus, Express-Sign-in and up to the latest 11th Gen Intel Core i7 vPro processors. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/04/Latitude-7320-Detachable-Side-View_crop-1024x577.jpg Read the rest of her post to see how the Latitude 7320 Detachable helps her go through a day filled with video meetings, powered by built-in AI software that manages efficiencies like battery life, audio settings and background applications. Continue reading...

In the midst of the pandemic, Z by HP challenged seven of its global Z Ambassadors to collaborate on a mixed-media project that evolved over several months into a film and experiential art piece called “The Living System.” Like many people over the past year, these artists hopped on video calls to discuss their individual contributions. But they always aimed for a cohesive story that reflected how they were all interconnected in the creation process, using Z by HP devices and DreamColor displays. Along the way, they stepped out of their comfort zones, learned new techniques and found inspiration not only in nature and their neighborhoods, but in each other. “I always enjoy that when I'm working with other people because you need to adapt, and when you adapt you change, and these changes always tell you something about yourself,” says Alex Trochut, a graphic designer/illustrator from Barcelona now based in Brooklyn, New York, who took on the first segment of the piece. “What inspires me the most is discovering something new. It's that eureka moment and that's what everybody chases, I think, when they're creating.” Trochut created his “characters” using VR sculpting and new Cinema 4D (C4D) animation methods – a first for him. “Every time I touch a new tool, it expands the way I express,” he says. “The beginning of the story, it's going from micro to macro. So, the idea is you see these microscopic beings floating and somehow they are part of some sort of bigger entity. I wanted to create something that felt very organic.”Trochut’s part in the production led into Gmunk’s twist on the elements, in the form of smoke simulations. The Berkeley, California-based visionary – who produced a Windows 10 desktop wallpaper among his many credits – learned new software and techniques, including Bifrost Extension (a plug-in for Autodesk Maya) sim methods, Embergen and Gaia. Next up in the piece was Nidia Dias, an art director based in Porto, Portugal. She specializes in point clouds and 3D work. Her work complemented that of the other woman on the project, award-winning photographer Jody Macdonald, who used a drone and Premiere Pro for the first time, capturing dramatic scenery in the American Southwest. [caption id=attachment_175598" align="aligncenter" width="1024]https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/04/HP_COCREATED_ZBOOK_Jody-1024x575.jpg Jody Macdonald works on her Z by HP laptop. (Photo courtesy of Z by HP)[/caption] “I wanted to pick up elements from nature, but then change the perspective on how we're looking at them or how we’re seeing them or how I'm portraying it in 3D,” Dias says. “I wanted to get different elements, a flower or a tree branch or a rock, and then abstract them or create something else still related to nature.” Macdonald trekked to find a tree for Dias and landscapes that would work well with Rik Oostenbroek’s color palette. Under normal circumstances she would have gone abroad, but with pandemic restrictions, she scouted locations in her home country instead. “Obviously, the storyline had to be cohesive with the living systems, but everyone was just playing with their own shots and their own ideas,” Dias says. “But since Rik has such a strong palette that he uses in his work, I think that became an inspiration for a lot of us, and knowing that Jody was looking for locations that could fit nicely into his, that color palette kind of slowly started blending and emerging into the other artists. We really wanted to feel from start to end that it’s one full piece. And we hope that people see that and understand this whole idea of starting from the microorganisms, going from all the little things that you have in nature to the end: what if nature becomes a part of us as well?”Dias, who normally creates still images, had to animate for this project, so for her, it was a relief to have fast GPU rendering on her Z4 desktop with NVIDIA graphics so she could quickly change or add elements without waiting. She doesn’t consider herself a technological person in terms of GPU or cooling systems. What matters most to her is having a PC that works without having to worry about what goes inside of it. Oostenbroek, who lives in a small town near Amsterdam, Netherlands, usually blends his digital art with real-life assets, such as photos he’s shot or paintings he’s brushed into life. But for this project, he dove into 3D animation. “For me, honestly, the biggest challenge was how to think like an animator. It was quite a steep learning curve,” he says. “It was actually the first time ever that I enjoyed an animation process, though in the beginning I was pretty frustrated. But with everybody giving me feedback, I gained so much energy and inspiration. It was especially nice how friendly and supportive everybody was, and how respectful.” This international collaboration with the others, who all met previously in person through the Z Ambassadors program, really opened Oostenbroek’s eyes to the potential of remote projects with other artists. “There’s so much possible within this new world we’re living in. Before COVID, you would have never thought about taking that leap,” he says. “But now, we’re working in different time zones with different software with all different perspectives, different backgrounds. And I actually never saw a project like this come to life with such different individuals. And that really amazed me at the end, especially after seeing the result.” Shane Griffin, a visual artist from Dublin, Ireland, who now lives in New York City, followed up on Oostenbroek’s contributions by developing photorealistic art in surrealist outdoor lighting – a first for him. “I’m in New York, so I wanted to create this overgrown Garden of Eden that kind of consumes the city. There was an interest in duality between the concrete nature of Manhattan and Mother Nature coming in to reset things in a way,” he says. “I let my imagination run a bit wild with it. And it was fun to recreate the Brooklyn streets. I wanted to see what my surroundings would look like if there was my interpretation of a living system growing over these surroundings that I’m familiar with. So, it definitely came from a place of reality and the surroundings I see every day. And I wanted to do something that was kind of challenging for me as well.” Orlando Arocena – better known on social channels as Mexifunk – was tasked with making the movie poster for the project. [caption id=attachment_175603" align="aligncenter" width="819]https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/04/HP_COCREATED_DREAMCOLOR_004-1024x576.jpg Jody Macdonald works with her Z by HP devices. (Photo courtesy of Z by HP)[/caption] By the end, all of them were happy with the way the project turned out and for the experience and insights it gave each of them. “This project created a unique opportunity to bring our Z ambassadors together, to collaborate across mediums and evolve their workflows,” said Erin Mott, head of marketing for Z by HP. “Equipped with our high-performance technology, the ambassadors truly uncovered new creative breakthroughs and inspired other creatives along the way.” “If I did this again, I don't think I'd change anything,” Dias says. “I like how things went and I like when happy accidents happened.” Find out more about this and other CoCreated Z by HP projects and tune in April 29 to a webinar featuring these artists and The Living System. Lead image: Shane Griffin's photorealistic art in surrealist outdoor lighting (Image courtesy of Z by HP) Continue reading...