Showing posts with label Microsoft. Show all posts


For years now, Visual Studio has been a Windows exclusive application but beginning later this month, Microsoft will be bringing their popular IDE to Apple's MacOS. At launch, the new Visual Studio IDE on Mac will not support everything that the Windows version supports but this first release will include support for languages like .NET, C# and F#. It will also include support for Android and iOS development through Xamarin.

The Mac version of Visual Studio is built through an open source MonoDevelop IDE platform. While the classic Visual Studio design from Windows will not be inherrited from this first iteration of Visual Studio for the Mac, features like IntelliSense code completion and powerful debugging are included,

Download a preview of Visual Studio for the Mac today.

ORIGINAL SOURCE: MICROSOFT
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After last week's hardware packed event, today Microsoft announced a new software coming to Office 365 called Microsoft Teams. This new tool is part of the Office 365 suite for businesses and it is basically a messaging platform which combines Office 365 applications like Skype, Word, Power BI, Delve and many more into a single unified service.

Microsoft Teams will be directly competing with the popular Slack messaging app that is currently available but unlike Slack, Microsoft is only making Microsoft Teams available to commercial / enterprise users. Beginning today, Office 365 customers with a commercial license (Enterprise / Business) will be able to preview Microsoft Teams in 18 different languages. Microsoft Teams can be accessed through dedicated apps for Windows 10, Android and Windows 10 Mobile. 

Learn more about Microsoft Teams here




ORIGINAL SOURCE: MICROSOFT
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Microsoft's special event in NYC this morning was primarily focused on the new Surface device(s) and naturally, that means more new accessories and Microsoft did just that. Alongside the announcement of the new Surface Studio and Surface Book i7, the company is also releasing several Surface branded accessories.

Microsoft Surface Dial — US$ 99 (~MYR 400)

Out of the 4 new accessories that Microsoft is announcing for Surface devices, the Surface Dial is the most unique one. For starters, it is essentially just a circular puck-like device that's made out of aluminium and is powered by two batteries. It connects through Bluetooth and officially supports both the Surface Studio, Surface Book and Surface Pro 4.

The primary use for the Dial is as a contextual menu that allows artists or designers to easily change colors or zoom into objects. The idea behind Surface Dial is pretty simple and it really depends on the software to unleash this device's full potential. Microsoft will begin offering the Surface Dial on November 11 for US$ 99

Surface Keyboard — US$ 99 (~MYR 400)

The next new official Surface accessory is the Surface Keyboard. The keyboard itself connects through Bluetooth 4.0 and will work with other devices like Android and Mac. Microsoft says the Surface Keyboard will last up to 12 months on 2 AAA batteries and the keyboard has a wireless range of up to 15 meters.

In terms of design, the Surface Keyboard features a light gray color that matches the silver finish on Surface devices. The Surface Keyboard will go on sale on November 11 for US$ 99 and it will also be bundled with the Surface Studio.

Surface Mouse — US$ 50 (~MYR 200)

The next new Surface accessory is Surface Mouse. It is basically the Microsoft Designer Bluetooth mouse that came out a couple years back but in gray. The Surface Mouse replaces the old Surface Mouse that was based on the Microsoft Arc Mouse. Just like before, the new Surface Mouse connects through Bluetooth 4.0 and uses Microsoft's BlueTrack Technology.

The Surface Mouse can last up to 12 months with two AAA batteries that's just about it. Nothing too fancy about the Surface Mouse, it comes with left and right click buttons and a standard scroll wheel. And just like the Surface Keyboard, the Surface Mouse will go on sale on November 11 and will be included with the purchase of the Surface Studio.

Surface Ergonomic Keyboard — US$ 130 (~MYR 540)

Last but not least, we have the Surface Ergonomic Keyboard which looks a lot like Microsoft's old Ergonomic keyboard but in a gray color scheme. The Surface Ergonomic Keyboard is exactly like the Surface Keyboard but the former features a ergonomic key layout and palm rest covered in grey mélange Alcantara. This keyboard will also ship in November 11
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Alognside the announcement of the forthcoming release of Windows 10 called the Creators Update, Microsoft is rounding up this morning's event in NYC with the launch of a new Surface product. Building upon the success of the Surface Book from last year, Microsoft has created the Surface Studio All-in-one PC tht combines everything that made the Surface lineup good into a desktop form factor.

What this means is that the Surface Studio is essentially a scaled up version of other Surface devices. Similar to the new Windows 10 update coming early next year, the Surface Studio according to Microsoft is built for creators.

Microsoft Surface Studio Key Specifications

— 28-inch 4500 x 3000 resolution PixelSense Display
— Intel 6th Generation (Skylake) Core i5 / Core i7 processor
— NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M(2GB)/980M(4GB)
— 1TB/2TB Rapid Hybrid drives
— 8/16/32 GB DDR4 memory
— 5MP front facing camera
— TPM 2.0 chip
— 637.35 x 438.9 x 11.4mm
— Upto 9.56kg
— Windows 10 64-bit
— 270W PSU

In terms of hardware, Microsoft is touting that the Surface Studio is the world's thinnest LCD monitor measuring in at just 12.5mm. That's not as razor thin as the 5mm edges on the Apple iMac but Microsoft's display is a touchscreen and includes their proprietary PixelSense technology that enables the Surface Pen to work. But that's not all, the display also features accurate colors that is suitable for photographers, videographers and designers.

While the Surface Studio's display is not detachable like the one on the Surface Book, it does come with a hinge that allows it to be adjusted to a 20-degree angle that is just the right elevation for drawing. 
Finally, there is a seperate US$ 99 accessory that Microsoft will be offering as an option to Surface Studio customers called the Surface Dial. It is basically a cylindrical device that acts like a contextual menu when places on the screen of the Surface Studio. At launch, the Surface Dial will support creative apps and music streaming services like Pandora and Spotify.

But beyond that, the Surface Studio is not the highest-end All-in-one compuer out there but it is definitely the most versatile one. The Surface Studio will go on sale in the United States in December 2016 for a price ranging from US$ 3,499 (~MYR 14,600) to US$ 4,1999 (~MYR 17,400). The Surface Studio will ship with the new Bluetooth Surface Keyboard and Mouse and also a Surface Pen.

Argubly, the price of the Surface Studio feels a little overpriced compared to other All-in-one computers like the iMac and the fact that Microsof is using last generation laptop graphics from Nvidia and the lack of futuristic I/O like Thunderbolt or USB Type-C makes the Surface Studio less attractive to spec heads. But bottom line, you have to realize that the Surface Studio is more of a 28 inch digital canvas inside of a computer rather than the other way around. Wacom touch displays at this size easily costs $2500.

Learn more about the Microsoft Surface Studio here.



ORIGINAL SOURCE: MICROSOFT
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One of the highlight features of the new Windows 10 Creators Update that Microsoft just announced this morning is the idea of introducing 3D experiences to everyone. The free update coming early next year will give Windows 10 users the ability to create and manipulate 2D objects into 3D ones but Microsoft is formerly introducing Virtual Reality to Windows 10 with the Creators Update.

As of today, VR headsets for Windows 10 like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive cost at least $500 for the headset. But Microsoft aims to change that with the new Windows 10 compliant VR headsets made by PC makers like HP, Dell, Asus, Lenovo and Acer. These VR headsets starts at just US$ 299 and Microsoft assures that these VR headsets will work with affordable device.

We're not sure what this means nor are we sure about the specs of these VR headsets but one thing's for sure, these Windows 10 compliant VR headsets will come with sensor that feture six-degrees of freedom. Expect to see these VR headsets be available around the release time of the Windows 10 Creators Update early next year.

ORIGINAL SOURCE: MICROSOFT
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Building on the momentum of Windows 10 which now has over 400 million users, Microsoft announced a new version of Windows 10 coming early next year as a free upgrade to existing Windows 10 users. The forthcoming Windows 10 update is called the Creators Update and Microsoft named this version the Creators Update because they are highlighting content creation features with this upcoming release of Windows 10.
During a special event in NYC this morning, Microsoft talked about three new features of the Windows 10 Creators Update that include a focus on creating 3D objects through the new Paint application. Alognside that, the company is also formerly announcing Remix3D.com which is a new social network for creators to share 3D artwork.

In addition to that, the new Windows 10 Creators Update is also introducing native game streaming powered by Beam streaming. The streaming built into Windows 10 will be tied directly with XBOX Live and Microsoft has included several social features for communicating with viewers during game streams.

Last but not least is the new People bar on the taskbar. Microsoft says that the Windows 10 Creators Update will allow users to pin their favorite people on the taskbar for easy commuication. The concept of favorites will also be seen throughout the operating system.

Microsoft will release the Windows 10 Creators Update early next year and expect to to hear more about the update in January 2017.


ORIGINAL SOURCE: MICROSOFT
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Word on the street is that Microsoft is planning to do away with Lumia phones and while not officially confirmed by the company itself, the recent layoffs pretty much implies it. But it seems that Microsoft has one last device to round up their acquisition of Nokia's mobile division in 2014. Enter the Nokia 216 which is a feature phone that is designed like phones from yesteryear.

Boxy design, rounded buttons, Nokia branding and most importantly, FM radio. That's the nokia 216 in a nutshell.

Microsoft Nokia 216 Key Specifications

— 2.4-inch QVGA LCD display
— 16MB expandable memory
— 0.3MP rear camera with LED flash
— VGA front camera with LED flash
— 1,020mAh battery
— Series 30+ OS
— 118 x 50.2 x 13.5mm
— 82.6g
— 2.5G network
— Blue, Black, White

This new Nokia 216 handset from Microsoft is not be mistaken from the Nokia company that plans to make a comeback to the smartphone market with an Android phone. But beyond that, this new feature phone comes with all the bells and whistles that you would expect from such a phone. The Nokia 216 is capable of storing upto 2,000 contacts and has a 24 day standby time. 

In addition to that, Microsoft also topped up this phone with two VGA cameras paired with LED flash units on the front and back. Microsoft will begin selling the Nokia 216 in India by October 26 for US$ 37 (~MYR 150)



ORIGINAL SOURCE: THE VERGE
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For months now, Microsoft has only been quoting 'Summer 2016' for the new Windows 10 Anniversary update but it looks like we finally have a definitive date as to when the update will be released. According to a blog post on Microsoft's Windows Blog, (which contains no body information at the time of posting) the Windows 10 Anniversary Update will be available beginning August 2.

Microsoft announced the Windows 10 Anniversary update a couple months back during Build 2016 and the update will be available to all Windows 10 devices as a free upgrade. Keep in mind that the free Windows 10 upgrade from Windows 7/8.1 ends July 29 and beginning July 30, Windows 10 upgrades will cost $119. Read about all the new changes that the Windows 10 Anniversary Update will bring here

---UPDATE 29/6/2016 11:17---
Article updated to reflect confirmation from Microsoft regarding the Anniversary Update

ORIGINAL SOURCE: WINDOWS CENTRAL
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It might still be a little early to say but Microsoft might have a winner here with their new console. Dubbed Project Scorpio, the new Console under Xbox One brand will only be arriving by the holiday season...next year. According to Xbox chief, Phil Spencer, Project Scorpio is a console like no other.

This new console codenamed Project Scorpio will be capable of 4K gaming and possibly also VR since it is already becoming a big trend these days. It will most likely be powered by a custom AMD chip like the Xbox One S and Microsoft is already hinting that this new console will have at least 6 teraflops of graphics horsepower which is about the league of a high end graphics card today.

No word on pricing but expect it to be around the $400-500 price bracket since this is looking to be a fully decked out console and given how Windows 10 is progressing, we might even see it running real PC games.

ORIGINAL SOURCE: MICROSOFT
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Microsoft's flagship console, the Xbox One is getting an upgrade and the new model unveiled during E3 2016 will be called the Xbox One S. The new model is 40% smaller than the original Xbox One and Microsoft also went the extra mile by giving it a new paintjob that is primarily white with a hint of black. Also, the Xbox One S now comes with an integrated power supply just like the PS4.


The smaller size also equates to a new vertical standing position like the older Xbox 360. But beyond that, Microsoft is touting that the new Xbok One S will feature 4K video playback and HDR will be supported in both games and videos. Oh yeah, there's also a new white controller to match the new console. The controller included with the Xbox One S features Bluetooth and users will be able to pair it up with a Windows 10 PC if they wish to do so.

Microsoft will begin shipping the new Xbox One S in August for US$ 299 (~MYR 1,200) and US$ 349 (~MYR 1,400) respectively for the 500GB and 1TB model. Additionally, there will also be a limited edition Xbox One S which will arrive before the mainstream models and that will cost US$ 399 (~MYR 1,600) and comes with a 2TB hard disk.

Hit the source link below to check out some live photos

ORIGINAL SOURCE: THE VERGE
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Microsoft has acquired a number of small companies in the past but today they are announcing that they will be acquiring LinkedIn for US$ 26.2 billion. To put that number in perspective, Microsft is paying 4x more then they did with the 7.2 billion Nokia acquisition. LinkedIn is the largest professional network with over 433 million users and Microsoft says that LinkedIn will continue to be an independent company even after they are acquired and LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner will continue his role to lead LinkedIn.

It is still not clear what Microsoft plans to do with LinkedIn but it looks like they are planning to take advantage of one of LinkedIn's recent purchase, lynda.com. Additionally, with LinkedIn, Microsoft will also be able to improve their offerings with Office 365. Read more about what LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner thinks about the Microsoft acquisition here

The LinkedIn acquisition is expected to complete by the end of 2016. 


ORIGINAL SOURCE: MICROSOFT
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Virtual Reality is all the trend these days and Microsoft announced during their Computex 2016 show that they will be opening up the Windows Holographic platform to third party VR and AR headsets which has previously been exclusive to Microsoft's own Hololens AR headset. The company demoed an integration between the Hololens and HTC Vive which shows how Microsoft is bridging the gap between AR and VR.

Microsoft will be working with Intel, AMD, Qualcomm, HTC, Acer, ASUS, CyberPowerPC, Dell, Falcon Northwest, HP, iBuyPower, Lenovo, MSI and others to bring amazing VR experiences to Windows 10 and the company suggests that more partners will soon adopt the Windows Holographic platform.

Check out the video below to see how Microsoft plans to merge VR and AR


ORIGINAL SOURCE: MICROSOFT
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In line with this morning's announcement by Nokia that HMD Mobile will acquire the rights to produce Nokia branded mobile devices, Microsoft has revealed that they will be selling their feature phone business acquired alongside the Nokia acquisition to Foxconn for $350 million. This news is not much of a surprise as Microsoft announced earlier this year that they will be only producing a couple of Lumia phones a year coupled with the fact that Microsoft is still working on making Windows 10 Mobile stable.

Once the deal with Foxconn closes, Microsoft will put their focus on producing Windows 10 Mobile devices. It is still unclear is Microsoft plans to continue the Lumia line they inherited from Nokia but it does fuel the rumor that the much anticipated Surface Phone is nearly here. Just a little recap, Microsoft's last feature phone was the Nokia 230.

Expect Nokia to come back in full force after everything settles down and that Surface Phone is coming.
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Back n February, Microsoft announced that they will be acquiring Xamarin, the company that makes the popular cross platform development tool for Visual Studio. This new doesn't come as much of a surprise as Xamarin has been working closely with Microsoft's Visual Studio team in the past. Fast forward to the second day of Build 2016 and while Microsoft did briefly tease Xamarin up on stage yesterday, today the company is officially announcing that Xamarin will now be included with Microsoft's Visual Studio IDE (starting with VS2015 update 2 which was announced yesterday)


Before today's announcement, a Xamarin license has varying costs depending on the business size but today, Microsoft announces that the Xamarin plugin is now available to everyone for free. This free version of Xamarin will work with all version of Visual Studio ranging from the free VS Community edition all the way to VS Professional with MSDN.

Beyond making Xamarin free, Microsoft also announced that they will be open sourcing the Xamarin runtime and they also shared plans to develop an iOS Emulator that will work on Windows 10. Download the latest Visual Studio 2015 Update 2 here
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Microsoft announced quite a number of new things during this morning's opening keynote for Build 2016 but it seems that the one they were focusing heavily on is with the new Bot Framework that uses the power of Microsoft's cloud computing to make AI more accessible to applications that we frequently use today. In case you don't know what this Bot framework is all about, it's basically just like Microsoft's chatbot, Tay which was released last week and pulled out subsequently because it went rogue.

Likewise, Microsoft's Bot Framework is designed for rich interaction inside of messaging applications and bots created through Microsoft's tools will work on services like Slack, Email, Skype, or any other web application. This service is basically similar to those automated bots that existed before but Microsoft's Bot framework does the heavy lifting when it comes to the artificial intelligence part.

Expect to see more services supporting Microsoft's Bot framework in the near future. If you're a developer or just a little curios, learn more about this new tool here
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In additon to announcing a brand new version of Windows 10 coming later this Summer and a new HoloLens demo, Microsoft also took the time to please developers. In addition to the cross platform development tools that are currently available, Microsoft is adding yet another well requested dev tool to Windows 10. In the future version of Windows 10, the Bash (Bourne Again Shell) will be available natively on Windows 10.

The shell which was a popular tool on Linux on the Mac in the past enables developers to easily write their .sh Bash scripts. Microsoft says they have worked closely with Canonical on this integration with the Bash shell on Windows 10. With yet another dev tool available on Windows 10, Microsoft is continuing to please Windows developers.

Oh yeah, there's also a new version of Visual Studio 2015 (update 2) available starting today that includes the new SDK for the upcoming Windows 10 Anniversary Update
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This morning during the opening keynote for Microsoft's 2016 BUILD developer conference, Terry Myerson took the time to announce that there is not over 270 million Windows 10 users and also introduced an upcoming Windows 10 update which have previously been referred as 'redstone'. Called the Windows 10 Anniversary update, the new version of Windows 10 will be coming to users later this Summer, presumably by the time Windows 10's first anniversary hits.


As expected, this upcoming update will slowly trickling out to users in the Windows Insider program in the coming weeks. As for the actual features that will be bundled with this new Anniversary update, the list currently includes things like support for biometric security through select applications on Microsoft Edge, improved inking (Windows Ink) improvements with some visual tweaks and updated support for UWP apps. Just as before, this list will most likely grow as the weeks go by.

Microsoft says that the Windows 10 anniversary update will be rolling out to all Windows 10 PCs in the Summer and the update will be free to all Windows 10 users. While these features are only related to Windows 10 on the PC, expect to hear more details about the Windows 10 Anniversary update for other Windows devices like the XBOX and Mobile.





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The trend these days is to make smartphones and HP is bucking up to that trend with it's first smartphone in years (remember the Palm Pre?). But unlike everyone else, HP's smartphone is not powered by Android but rather the PC maker has chosen Microsoft's Windows 10 Mobile operating system as their comeback to the smartphone race. 

HP chose Windows 10 Mobile mainly because of the unique continuum feature that Microsoft has built into their mobile operating system that enables a smartphone to effectively transform into a desktop like experience. 

HP Elite X3 Key Specifications

  • 5.96-inch AMOLED QHD display
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC
  • 4GB LPDDR4 RAM
  • 64GB expandable memory (upto 2TB)
  • 16MP f2.0 rear camera
  • 8MP front camera with iris scanner
  • 4,150mAh battery with qi wireless charging
  • 161.8 x 83.5 x 7.8mm (195g)
  • IP67 and MIL-STD-810G
  • Windows 10 Mobile
As you see from the spec sheet above, the HP Elite X3 is the first Windows Phone to run on Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 820 SoC which is also powering Android flagships like the LG G5 and Galaxy S7. The reason why HP is decking out the Elite X3 with the best mobile processor available and 4GB of RAM is because HP is expecting the people who buy this phone to take advantage of continuum.

To enable continuum, HP is readying two accessories, one of them is called the Desk Dock which is a a dock that gives the phone a couple of USB ports, a display out and a wired ethernet port. Another Continuum accessory that the HP Elite X3 will work with is called the Mobile Extender. Despite the name, HP's Mobile Extender is basically a laptop without the internal hardware.

Why no internal hardware you ask? Well, the Mobile Extender takes Microsoft's continuum off to a next level as the Mobile Extender will wirelessly connect with the HP Elite X3 (and maybe even other Continuum compatible devices) and provide you with a laptop experience all from the smartphone.

At the moment, HP says they are targeting to launch the HP Elite X3 later in the Summer but we'll most likely hear more of the HP Elite X3 during Build 2016 in April.
ORIGINAL SOURCE: WINDOWSCENTRAL
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After quite a number of months being in the rumour mills, today Microsoft is formally announcing the Microsoft Lumia 650 which according to credible reports will be the last Lumia phone from Microsoft as the company moves it's mobile business to the Surface brand. Nothing is confirmed at this point, so take it with a grain of salt. But, as for the Lumia 650 itself, this device is priced at US$ 199 (~ RM 822) and will go on sale in Europe on February 18.

As expected, the Lumia 650 comes with a metal frame paired up with a white or black polycarbonate back. And of course, the Lumia 650 comes loaded with Microsoft's new Windows 10 Mobile OS and joins the likes of the Lumia 550 and Lumia 950 series. Similar to the Lumia 550 launch, it seems that Microsoft is targeting the Lumia 650 for enterprise users than actual consumers.

Expect to see the Lumia 650 launch in Malaysia sometime soon and the device will be available in Dual SIM variants which will likely be the one coming to Malaysia. Learn more about the availability of the Lumia 650 here in Malaysia here

Lumia 650 Key Specifications: 

  • 5-inch 720P AMOLED display 
  • Snapdragon 212 SoC
  • 1 GB RAM
  • 8MP f2.2 rear camera 
  • 5MP front camera 
  • 16GB expandable memory
  • 2,000mAh battery
  • LTE
  • 142 x 70.9 x 6.9mm


ORIGINAL SOURCE: MICROSOFT
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