Microsoft is no longer sticking to the monthly “Xbox 20/20 updates” formula it announced back in May. Indeed, the company has quietly updated its original blog post last week to say that the initial announcement suggested that there would be a monthly Xbox show every month, and there was indeed no big event in June between the May Inside Xbox livestream and the Xbox Games Showcase in July.

Little tidbit: Microsoft has quietly dropped the Xbox 20/20 phrasing last Friday and wants to be more flexible about releasing new information https://t.co/yK4SZBidFg pic.twitter.com/yf8DBmo3B8

— Nibel (@Nibellion) August 10, 2020

“After reassessing our programming for the rest of the year, we’ve decided to stop using the “Xbox 20/20” phrasing as it implied that we would be releasing information in one way only, through a dedicated monthly show,” the Xbox team explained. The first Xbox 20/20 update in May was focused on third-party games coming to Xbox Series X, and that show didn’t really meet the expectations of Xbox fans looking to see real gameplay on Xbox Series X. June passed without an Xbox 20/20 update, and the Xbox Games Showcase in July was also a disappointment for Halo fans after Halo: Infinite failed to blow everyone away.

“We’ve got so much more to share with news about Xbox Series X, new games like Halo: Infinite, and cloud gaming via Xbox Game Pass. We’re going to share that news in a variety of ways. It may sometimes be a dedicated show, YouTube videos, partnering with others, or sharing the latest via Xbox Wire. We want to stay flexible with how we connect with you,” the Xbox team said in the update published last week. The company is expected to finally unveil its Lockhart/Xbox Series S console this month, which is now the worst kept secret in the video games industry, but it remains to be seen how the Xbox team will do it.

After Sony aired a new “State of Play” livestream last week, it would be a bit disappointing to see the Xbox team not using a similar format this month. However, Microsoft announced its Surface Laptop 3, Surface Go 2 and Surface Headphones via a simple press release earlier this year, so it wouldn’t be completely surprising if the Xbox Series S getting the same treatment this month.

It’s been rumored for some time that elements of the now-delayed Windows 10X operating system could come to regular Windows 10, and we’re now perhaps finally seeing some of that come true. As noted by Windows Central, the latest Windows Insider build hides away the Windows 10X touch keyboard inside the operating system.

Coming as a change from the Windows 8 style touch keyboard that has been in Windows 10 for the last 5 years, this should be quite refreshing. As Microsoft showcased when it revealed Windows 10X, this keyboard comes with transparent effects, touches of Fluent Design, as well as new sounds. There’s even a GIF picker, emoji panel (now above the keyboard,) and fresher animations. Other new elements include a shortcut above the keyboard to see the clipboard.

If you’re eager and don’t want to wait for this feature to officially roll out, you can try this keyboard today at your own risk today. First, install the ViveTool, extract it, open it in PowerShell, and run the following code (without the quote marks) “vivetool addconfig 20438551 2” You should then restart your PC for it to work. Again, we don’t recommend installing such programs to your PC and urge you to wait for Microsoft to roll it out. But, since the code for the keyboard is in the operating system, it might well be coming soon.

If you own a small business, then generating reports, presentations, training materials, and newsletters are key to your day to day operations. With these types of materials, you not only can keep your employees engaged, but also your audience and customers. You might have already heard about using PowerPoint or other programs like Photoshop and Adobe InDesign for creating these things, but did you know that your Microsoft 365 subscription has a service that also can help out?

That’s right, with your Microsoft 365 Subscription you have access to Sway. This is an app from Microsoft Office that makes it easy to create and share interactive reports, personal stories, presentations, and more. In our latest Microsoft 365 guide, we’ll be going hands-on with the experience for you.

What is Sway?

Before getting into anything, we’ll recap what exactly Sway does for you. Sway lets you compile text, images, videos, and other content into an interactive online format. You’ll be able to use it to apply designer-created layouts and color schemes or let Sway suggest design elements that match your content. You also can search and import relevant content from sources, and then share your Sways on the web.

Sway is available online from the web or from the Microsoft Store in Windows 10. It’s free to use for anyone with a Microsoft Account. However, you can create some more advanced Sways when used with a Microsoft 365 Subscription. You can learn more about that here.

Download
QR-Code

Sway

Developer:
Microsoft Corporation

Price:
Free

Creating a Sway from a topic or template

Once you head into Sway on the web, you’ll be able to create a new one from scratch, from an existing file, or a topic. You can click the Create New button to get started with a new Sway from blank. For most novices, though, we recommend starting from a template. For other things like a report, you can start from a topic by clicking Start from a topic. With this option, Sway provides base content for you, powered by Wikipedia.

You can also choose from a variety of common templates such as internal newsletter, external newsletter, How-to, vision document, status update, resume, and more. Scroll through the list with the arrow key. Once you find the one you want, you can edit the template by clicking Start editing this Sway.

If you create from a topic or template you’ll see various pre-populated sections, similar to a Word document or a PowerPoint. You can edit these by clicking on each card or image to put in your own content. When you finish, you can preview the Sway by clicking the Play button at the top. You also can change things around by clicking the Styles tab under Design to change text boxes to different styles for a more unique look. We’ll have more on that later.

Creating a Sway from scratch

Next up, there’s creating a sway from scratch. If you choose to go this route, you need to be aware of a couple of things. These include: the Storyline, the title, and adding content. We’ll get started by explaining the Storyline, first.

In Sway, the Storyline is where you’ll edit, type, and insert content. The Storyline is organized by cards, and each card has different purposes and content types. These cards include text, images, videos, and also Office documents. You can upload your own images, or you can search for sources using the search box directly within Sway. Just click the Insert button at the top right corner of the screen.

The first card in the Storyline will always be the title. Be sure to make this one stand out. You can drag images saved on your device into the Sway title by clicking and dragging them in from the original location.

Next, there’s your content. You also can add new elements and content to the Storyline by clicking the green + button underneath any previous card. The different types of elements you can add to a Sway can be seen below. We suggest playing around with these as you add them, as each type of content changes the way a Sway looks.

• Heading
• Text
• Images
• Stack of Images, Text
• Videos
• Audio
• Embed an item
• Stack of images, slideshow of images, grid of games, and more.

Once you add a card, you can delete it at any time by clicking the trashcan icon in the top right corner of the card. You also can drag storyline cards up and down by clicking and dragging it around, if you need to reorganize things.

Design in Sways

Continuing along, there is another important area to Sway, The Design. This is accessed by clicking the Design tab when editing a Sway. From here, you’ll be able to select designs and layouts. There are various designs to choose from.

Each design will change your backgrounds and text boxes to a different theme. You can cycle through the list to pick one, and then choose the Customize button to change it as you see fit. That customize option will let you adjust a specific part of the currently applied theme, such as color, font choices, and the emphasis of animation.

The Style, meanwhile, can be changed from vertical, horizontal, or slides. These will change how your content scrolls as the user scroll through your content.

Once you’re satisfied with a design, you can preview your way by clicking the Play button on the top menu bar. This will allow you to experience your sway just as the viewer would.

Sharing your Sway and more

Once you design a Sway, the final thing to do is to share it. When shared, your family can view it without signing in or downloading. To share, just click the Share button in the top navigation bar and copy the URL. You can choose three ways to share, with specific people, only within your organization, or anyone with a link. You also can copy an embed code and embed it in a blog, as we have done above. If you’d like you also can add a password to the Sway to protect it. You can learn more about sharing Sways at Microsoft by clicking here.

We hope that you found out guide to Microsoft Sway helpful. If you’re still looking for more information on how to get started with Sway, you can check out Microsoft’s support website, here. Do you like Sway? Get creative, and let us know how Sway works for you by dropping us a comment below.

Earlier this year, Microsoft announced that it’s bringing new cloud syncing capabilities to Outlook for Windows in June. However, it seems like the Redmond giant has delayed the release of this feature to the end of September (via Dr Windows). Microsoft has posted a new update in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center noting that the decision has been made based on early feedback received from the users, and some additional changes to the code are required to enable cloud roaming option:

Based on learnings from our early rings, we have made the decision to make additional changes to the code before we proceed with the rollout. We expect to roll this out to the Monthly Channel, Production, in late September (previously late June).

The new cloud syncing feature will deliver roaming profiles that should sync a wide variety of settings in the cloud, and the list includes Advanced, Calendar, Ease of Access, General, Groups, Mail, People, Search, as well as Tasks. The whole point of the cloud roaming option is to ensure a consistent user experience when they access Outlook for Windows on any of their PCs.

Microsoft said that the roaming options will be turned on by default, and it will be up to the Office 365 admins to disable this feature for all Microsoft users in their organization. In case you missed it, Microsoft is also planning to bring cloud support for Windows email signatures, and the rollout is expected in the coming weeks.

Microsoft’s second next-gen Xbox console, which is rumored to be officially announced in August, will apparently be named the Xbox Series S. Leaked pictures of a next-gen white Xbox controller have been published by Twitter user Zak S over the weekend, and the side of the packaging shows that it’s compatible with the “Xbox Series X/S.”

This is the second time we’re seeing a white next-gen Xbox controller in pictures after a Reddit user briefly posted pictures of a similar controller last week before deleting them. Anyway, The Verge has now confirmed the authenticity of the pictures from Zak S, who apparently purchased the controller from a resale site.

Xbox series X controller found in the wild!! pic.twitter.com/TEns4z45CB

— Zak S (@zakk_exe) August 9, 2020

The Xbox Series S name makes sense if Microsoft wants to reiterate the two consoles strategy that led to the release of the more powerful Xbox One X one year after the Xbox One S. This time, Microsoft chose to unveil its more powerful Xbox Series X console first, and the Xbox Series S is expected to be the cheaper “Lockhart” SKU that we’ve been hearing about from quite some time now. Traces of Lockhart/Xbox Series S have recently been found in a new Microsoft Game Development Kit from June.

Compared to the Xbox Series X, the Xbox Series S/Lockhart is expected to come with a similar AMD custom-designed Zen 2 GPU, but a less powerful 4 teraflops GPU for 1080p/1440p gaming. The Xbox Series S is also expected to be a discless console with a form factor that could be quite similar to the Xbox One S/X. Actually, the console could be a good next-gen replacement for the Xbox One X that Microsoft recently stopped manufacturing.

It remains to be seen if pictures of the Xbox Series S could leak before Microsoft officially announces it. Sony opted for a slightly different strategy, announcing a discless PlayStation 5 Digital Edition console alongside the regular PlayStation 5 last month. Microsoft has opted instead for 2 consoles with different specs, and this might cause some confusion for consumers. The company has a new “Optimized for Xbox Series X” badge that will appear on game packaging, but it’s not clear yet if these optimized games will benefit from similar optimizations when running on the less powerful Xbox Series S.

Welcome back to our Windows 10 news recap, where we go over the top stories of the past week in the world of Microsoft’s flagship operating system.

New Surface Pro 7 firmware updates improve power efficiency and Cortana experience

Surface Pro 7 users were sent a new firmware update this week. This latest update improves power efficiency and the Cortana experience. It is recommended to install the updates in order to ensure you’re getting the most out of the Surface Pro 7 battery.

Parallels Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise will bring full Windows apps to Chromebooks later this fall

Enterprise users of Parallels Desktop for Chromebook are set to be able to make use of full Windows apps this fall, as part of bringing Windows virtual machines to Chromebooks, much like the case with Mac.

Samsung deepens its partnership with Microsoft with new Office, Your Phone, and Xbox integrations

Microsoft’s foray back into the phone market with the Surface Duo dual-screen phone doesn’t appear to have tainted the relationship between Microsoft and Samsung, with Samsung announcing a number of new and improved integrations with Microsoft’s services. Of note for Windows 10 users, Samsung’s Galaxy Note 20 will gain the ability to launch Android apps from your phone on a Windows 10 PC.

You can read about all the announcements by Samsung here.

That’s it for this week. We will be back next week with more Windows 10 news.

It’s been a couple of days since Microsoft released a major update for PowerToys (version 0.20), but the company has already rolled out a maintenance update. Indeed, PowerToys v0.20.1, which was released earlier this week, delivers a couple of critical fixes to improve the overall stability of the app.

We just released #powerToys 0.20.1 which fixed a few critical bugs. One bug caused a cascade of other bugs to be found. This also has a fix for the installer. https://t.co/VfK1bbhgVg

— Clint Rutkas (@ClintRutkas) August 5, 2020

“This is patch release to fix a few items for 0.20 we deemed important for stability. The installer, PowerToys Run, FancyZones and ColorPicker. FancyZones had a bug in it which then crashed our hosting app (we refer to as Runner), then that caused us to find a few bugs in PowerToys Run that happen when Runner crashes,” said Clint Rutkas, Program manager lead on PowerToys.

Here’s the full list of improvements and fixes in PowerToys version 0.20.1:

• #5400 – PT Run doesn’t dispose properly and disposed object trying to be accessed
• #5555 – ColorPicker trying to always reload a bad settings file
• #5540 – FancyZones tries to drag an elevated window
• #5484 – Installer gets stuck installing .NET Core

If you’re still experiencing some issues, you can share your feedback with the PowerToys team on GitHub to help them fix these additional problems. In the meantime, you can head over to the GitHub releases page to get the latest stability improvements.

Microsoft PowerPoint on Windows is getting a new adaptive Mini Toolbar that should help users improve their productivity. The feature is already live in Microsoft PowerPoint for Office Insiders running the Current Channel (Preview) Version 2005 (Build 12723.10000) or later.

The Mini Toolbar, which is a stripped-down version of the full toolbar available near the top of the application window, was first introduced in Microsoft Office 2007. It makes it easier for users to access the commands they need to use most frequently quickly.

With this new Mini Toolbar experience, Microsoft is now working to evolve this feature to meet the evolving needs of users. They will now see three additional buttons at the end of the Mini Toolbar based on the last 20 commands that they used while working on a file. These buttons should automatically update as users will switch between commands and tasks to suggest commands relevant to their current task.

Microsoft plans to release this new adaptive Mini Toolbar experience to Current Channel (Preview) users in August. Still, it shouldn’t be long before the update starts rolling out to all Microsoft 365 subscribers. If you’re an Office Insider who has any suggestions about this new feature, feel free to submit your feedback by heading to Help > Feedback in PowerPoint.

Microsoft is fighting back against Apple after the iPhone maker blocked the Xbox Game Pass cloud gaming service (Project xCloud) out of the Apple App Store due to its policies. In a statement seen on Windows Central, Microsoft had some harsh words for its longtime rival, saying that “Apple stands alone as the only platform to deny consumers from cloud gaming.”

In addition to calling out Apple, Microsoft again hinted that, due to these policies, there is now no path to bringing cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to iPad and iPhone users. “Our testing period for the Project xCloud preview app for iOS has expired. Unfortunately, we do not have a path to bring our vision of cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to gamers on iOS via the Apple App Store,” said Microsoft to the publication.

In another part of the statement, Microsoft addressed Apple’s policies of treating games on Apple App Store differently. This refers to the policy where Apple doesn’t have to moderate other streaming apps (like songs on Spotify or movies on Netflix) because they consider games as different and “interactive.” On this, Microsoft says to Windows Central, “It [Apple] consistently treats gaming apps differently, applying more lenient rules to non-gaming apps even when they include interactive content.”

Microsoft ended its statement by pointing out that despite what Apple says, all games on Xbox Game Pass are “rated for content by independent industry ratings bodies such as the ESRB and regional equivalents.” Microsoft also hinted at being a cross-platform company, saying that it is still committed to finding a path to bring cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass to iOS. “The customer should be at the heart of the gaming experience and gamers tell us they want to play, connect and share anywhere, no matter where they are,” said Microsoft.

Indeed, it now seems as though Microsoft has joined the rest of the world in addressing Apple’s unfair App Store policies. This will shape up to be a new controversy, for sure, and we will keep you updated. Do you stand with Apple, or Microsoft? Let us know which side of the controversy you stand on by dropping us a comment below.

Microsoft has just announced an update on its upcoming Ignite conference, the company’s annual event for developers and IT professionals. This is quite exceptional, but the software giant says it will be planning Ignite 2020 as two free global virtual events, one in September, and another one to come in early 2021.

According to Microsoft, Ignite has shifted from in-person to two virtual sessions so the company could create “an additional opportunity to connect with our technical communities and share the latest product developments.” The first session will be free 48-hour digital gathering from September 22-24. Registration for this one will be open on September 3rd. The second event will be held early next year, but will not replace Microsoft Build. “We’ll continue to host Microsoft Build as the forum for our developer communities to come together,” said Microsoft.

Microsoft also says it has learned from the global digital events it has already hosted this year. And, by shifting Ignite online, global participants can come together, and get the chance to get skill building with Microsoft Learn and certifications. You can stay up to date on Ignite by checking Microsoft’s events website here.

In February, former head of Surface devices Panos Panay took over as head of a newly created Windows + Devices team, and today news is filtering out that some major shuffling is taking place within the org. In an email viewed by Petri.com and Thurrott.com, Panay redefines the purpose of the team, especially in light of the rapidly changing tech environment due to the coronavirus. Paul Thurrott quotes Panay from the email:

In taking the next step, our focus is on product-making, aligning experiences across the company, and inspiring our broad and vibrant ecosystem. Our desire is to create end-user pull across all segments of the business. As we move forward, I’m energized and passionate about the incredible opportunity in front of us.

Panay goes on to describe three basic pillars of the business:

• Deliver iconic experiences across Microsoft, lighting up both modern work and life.
• Grow the business of Windows and Surface, delivering the best of Microsoft and creating end-user pull.
• Lead the industry through innovation and technology, enabling our ecosystem of partners to thrive.

To do that, Panay announced a number of personnel changes, including some new members to the team:

• Jeff Johnson will lead the new Windows, Developers and Experiences (WDX) Engineering team
• Linda Averett will join W +D to lead the WDX PM team
• Michael Fortin will join W + D to lead a new team combining a number of teams across Microsoft, including COSINE (Core OS and Intelligent Edge) and 365 Experience and Services. Brad Sams explains that Project Reunion will fall under Fortin, now.
• Aidan Marcuss will move from Devices COO “to lead Windows product planning, ecosystem (including the Windows Ecosystem Enablement team), Store, and 1^st– and 3rd-party apps.”
• Brett Ostrum will lead Devices product and roadmap, leading “a single point of ownership” for Surface, including Foldables
• Robin Seiler will elad the Devices Portfolio and Operations (DPO) team, covering end to end business strategy for Windows and Devices

In addition, Mary Jo Foley is reporting that these changes are affecting Azure as well, with part the COSINE team moving over to Windows + Devices, but some of the Windows Core part of the team remaining in Azure under Jason Zander. New to Azure will be a new Azure Core team, uniting Compute and Networking and Storage Services, under Girish Bablani.

With Microsoft set to release the long awaited Surface Duo, and growing indications that it’s finally retaking an interest in consumer with the bombshell news of a pursuit of a TikTok acquisition, and now this renewed focus on product-making, things may be looking up for the Microsoft consumer enthusiast.

Bethesda is the latest video game publisher to share its plans for next-gen console upgrades. Today, the company announced that gamers who own The Elder Scrolls Online and Doom Eternal on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 will be able to get the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 versions for free when they will be available.

We don’t know yet when the next-gen versions of these games will be available, or if Bethesda will leverage the Microsoft’s new Smart Delivery feature that will debut with the Xbox Series X later this year. In the meantime, the publisher is currently “working hard” to make sure that the existing versions of Doom Eternal and The Elder Scrolls Online will run great on next-gen consoles through backwards compatibility.

The publisher also teased more next-gen upgrades for some of its other existing games. “While we don’t have any news to share just yet on our remaining catalogue of titles, we can confirm we are committed to offer free upgrades for current generation console owners of existing Bethesda titles we bring forward into the next generation of consoles,” Bethesda said today.

According to a tweet from Paul Thurrott, Microsoft MVPs have been invited to attend a virtual Surface briefing. The upcoming August 12 event could presumably be for the Surface Duo.

Microsoft MVPs were invited to attend a virtual Surface briefing, presumably for Duo, on August 12.

— Paul Thurrott (@thurrott) August 6, 2020

Not many other details were provided, but this timing does make a lot of sense. The Duo has been rumored to ship the week of August 24, which is just 12 days after this event. And, since the COVID-19 outbreak means Microsoft won’t hold in-person events, such a virtual briefing would be the perfect way to introduce the device to Microsoft’s Most Valuable Professionals.

Previously, Microsoft has also invited Surface fans to attend in-person press events ahead of the launch of the Surface Laptop 3, Surface Pro 7. So, this once again hints that the Duo will be coming sooner, rather than later. There might even be a separate event for media, too.

In other news, yet another Microsoft executive has been spotted with the Surface Duo. This time, it’s the Corporate Vice President of Microsoft 365, Jeff Teper. As seen in the featured image above, the exec showed off how he uses dual screen OneDrive on his Duo to look for the best photo his daughter took of him, using the device. He also mentioned how he uses the Duo outside to meet with Surface Chief Panos Panay outdoors on Microsoft Teams.

In place of the regular “Free Play Days” events that Xbox Live Gold members enjoy quite regularly, Microsoft has just announced a Big Gaming Weekend for all gamers on Xbox One and PC. Starting today through Monday, Microsoft will unlock Xbox Live multiplayer for all Xbox One owners, and the company will also make a couple of big games playable for free on Xbox One and PC, no Xbox Live Gold required.

If you have an Xbox One, you’ll be able to play Black Desert, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Monster Hunter World, Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited, Borderlands 3, Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker, and the multiplayer mode of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (available August 7-10). Three Xbox Game Pass PC titles will also be available for free on both console and PC, Gears 5, Subnautica, and Ark: Survival Evolved.

It’s not the first time that Microsoft makes Xbox Live multiplayer free for everyone for a limited time, but the timing is quite interesting following the recent rumors about Xbox Live Gold. Microsoft recently updated its Services Agreement to replace Xbox Live with “Xbox online services,” but the company confirmed yesterday that the language change was to distinguish the cloud services from the paid Xbox Live Gold subscription, which isn’t going away.

Do you think Microsoft will eventually cave and make multiplayer free on Xbox One consoles, maybe just for free-to-play games like Fortnite? Xbox Live Gold still has some value, but the company may want to shake things up ahead of the launch of the Xbox Series X later this year.

Microsoft is testing new changes for the Xbox Guide on Xbox One consoles. In the latest Xbox Insider build released for Alpha Skip-Ahead and Alpha Xbox Insiders, Microsoft introduced a new Game Activity tab in the Guide that can display useful content about the game you’re currently playing on your console.

The new Game Activity tab will provide quick access to Achievements, Looking for Group Posts, as well Official Club posts and suggested events happening in-game. This new tab will replace the Achievements tab for select Insiders, but the Xbox team emphasized that “Achievements are a pillar of the Xbox ecosystem, and we want to support them alongside promoting different ways to engage with your favorite games.”

Keep in mind that this new Game Activity tab will evolve depending on user feedback, it may not ship in the next system update for the Xbox One. The same can be said for the redesigned Microsoft Store on Xbox One, which is also available for a subset of Insiders installing this latest build. “The experience will be available for more Insiders over time before it rolls out to all users this fall,” the Xbox team said yesterday.

The Xbox One OS has changed quite a lot since the launch of the console back in 2013, and the current dashboard and Xbox Guide look quite different from the original Metro-inspired design. The upcoming Xbox Series X console will use the same OS as the Xbox One, though Microsoft will probably introduce some new design changes ahead of the launch of the next-gen Xbox in holiday 2020.

Microsoft has just released the Windows 10 Insider build 20185 for Insiders in the Dev Channel (previously Fast Ring). This new build is a minor update with a couple of improvements for DNS configuration in the Settings app, as well as new Mobile Device Management (MDM) policies for ADMX files to be configured with Intune Custom profile.

You can find all details about new features, bug fixes, and known issues in this build below:

What’s new in Build 20185

Improving DNS configuration in Settings

We’re making a few changes to the Network section in Settings:

1. Making DNS settings more easily accessible: Editing your DNS server assignment is now a top-level option when you go into your network’s properties page.
2. Encrypted DNS controls in the Settings app: Encrypted DNS (DNS over HTTPS, or DoH) can help increase privacy and security while browsing the web. You can now configure DoH directly in the Settings app to more easily take advantage of this feature:

• • For ethernet connections: Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status. Click Properties, then select Edit IP assignment or Edit DNS server assignment and it will be available in the popup
  • For Wi-Fi connections: Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi. Click the adapter properties link, then select Edit IP assignment or Edit DNS server assignment and it will be available in the popup. Currently you will not see the encryption options if you go to the individual network’s property page

You can add any IP address listed here to unlock the DoH dropdown and choose to use encryption. Once encryption is enabled, you can confirm it’s working by looking at the applied DNS servers in the network properties and see them labeled as “(Encrypted)” servers. If you want to try a custom DoH server we don’t recognize yet, you can configure an IP address to be recognized as a DoH server by using the netsh command documented here at the end of the blog post.

As always, appreciate your feedback!

New ADMX Backed Policies for MDM

Starting with Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 20175, we have enabled 647 new MDM policies across 56 ADMX files to enable commercial customers to configure policies that are also supported through Group Policies. Contains ADMX based Policies such as App Compat, Event Forwarding, Servicing and Task Scheduler. These new policies can be configured using Intune custom profile. Intune UX is planned to be available later this year.

ADMX file name:

• AddRemovePrograms.admx
• AppCompat.admx
• AuditSettings.admx
• CipherSuiteOrder.admx
• COM.admx
• Cpls.admx
• CtrlAltDel.admx
• DigitalLocker.admx
• DnsClient.admx
• DWM.admx
• EncryptFilesonMove.admx
• EventForwarding.admx
• FileServerVSSProvider.admx
• FileSys.admx
• FolderRedirection.admx
• Help.admx
• HelpAndSupport.admx
• kdc.admx
• LanmanServer.admx
• LinkLayerTopologyDiscovery.admx
• MMC.admx
• MMCSnapins.admx
• MSAPolicy.admx
• nca.admx
• NCSI.admx
• Netlogon.admx
• OfflineFiles.admx
• PeerToPeerCaching.admx
• PerformanceDiagnostics.admx
• PreviousVersions.admx
• QOS.admx
• Reliability.admx
• Scripts.admx
• sdiageng.admx
• Securitycenter.admx
• Servicing.admx
• Setup.admx
• SharedFolders.admx
• Sharing.admx
• Shell-CommandPrompt-RegEditTools.admx
• Smartcard.admx
• Snmp.admx
• TaskScheduler.admxtcpip.admx
• Thumbnails.admx
• TPM.admx
• UserExperienceVirtualization.admx
• W32Time.admx
• WinCal.admx
• WindowsAnytimeUpgrade.admx
• WindowsConnectNow.admx
• WindowsMediaDRM.admx
• WindowsMediaPlayer.admx
• WindowsMessenger.admx
• WinInit.admx

Changes and Improvements

• We’re moving the 3D Viewer app into the Windows Accessories folder in the Start menu all apps list.

Fixes

• We fixed an issue where sometimes the “close all windows” action in the Taskbar wasn’t closing all of the open tabs for pinned sites.
• We fixed an issue that could result in the network icon in the Taskbar saying there was no internet although there was an active connection.
• We fixed an issue where dragging and dropping an app from Start’s all apps list over to the tile grid to pin it wasn’t working for certain apps.
• We fixed an issue where the letter headers in the Start menu’s all apps list had unnecessary left padding when the all apps list was set to hidden.
• In order to address an issue where the tiles were difficult to read against certain backgrounds when using full screen Start we’re adjusting the background to be slightly less transparent.
• We fixed an issue where when using a Start menu layout applied by MDM, tile groups may disappear after a few days of uptime without rebooting.
• We fixed an issue where if a notification included an inline image the app icon would be slightly out of line with it.
• We fixed an issue where launching an app from its taskbar jumplist wasn’t working for certain desktop bridge apps and instead would result in the app disappearing from the taskbar.
• We fixed an issue resulting in excessive network traffic when using the Open File dialog to navigate to shared network folders where previous versions where enabled.
• We fixed an issue that could result in a blank icon displaying instead of a plus button on the main Default Apps page in Settings after uninstalling the app set as default.
• We fixed an issue where opening Storage Settings then immediately going into one of the sub-pages and then back could result in the page not loading.
• We fixed an issue resulting in the new Microsoft Edge not being listed in the App History section of Task Manager.
• We fixed an issue resulting in
• We fixed an issue impacting touch keyboard launch reliability.
• We fixed an issue where TextInputHost.exe would enter an unresponsive state, leading to clipboard history, the Emoji Panel, and dictation not appearing when pressing their corresponding keyboard shortcuts.
• We fixed an issue that could result in not being able to paste the first entry in clipboard history.
• We fixed an issue that could result in ARM64 devices bug checking when resuming from hibernation.

Known issues

• We’re working on a fix for an issue where some Microsoft Store games protected with Easy Anti-Cheat may fail to launch.
• We’re looking into reports of the update process hanging for extended periods of time when attempting to install a new build.
• We’re working on a fix for an issue where the min/max/close buttons are stuck in their original positions after resizing a UWP app. If you move the app window the position should update.
• We’re investigating reports that the new taskbar experience for pinned sites isn’t working for some sites.
• We’re working on a fix to enable live preview for pinned site tabs.
• We’re working on enabling the new taskbar experience for existing pinned sites. In the meantime, you can unpin the site from the taskbar, remove it from the edge://apps page, and then re-pin the site.
• We’re working on a fix for an issue where pinned sites don’t show all open tabs for a domain. In the meantime, you can fix this by pinning the site’s homepage rather than a specific page (e.g. pin microsoft.com rather than microsoft.com/windows).
• We’re working on a fix for an issue where Alt + Tabbing to a browser tab sometimes moves the previously active browser tab to the front of the Alt + Tab list as well.
• Opening a WSL 1 distribution can result in the error: ‘The I/O operation has been aborted because of either a thread exit or an application request’. Please check out this

In addition to the release of this new build in the Dev Channel, the Windows Insider team also announced today that the next webcast will air on Twitch on August 18 at 10AM PDT. That’s the consequence of Microsoft closing its Mixer live streaming platform last month, but the Windows Insider team will also keep publishing videos on the official YouTube channel as well.

We’ve been getting new Dev channel builds at a regular pace in the past couple of weeks, but these builds are still not labeled “21H1.” Microsoft now uses the Dev channel to test new features that may or may not end up in the next feature update for Windows 10, but recent improvements for the Start Menu, the Settings app, Notifications, and Tablet mode have recently landed in 20H2 builds for the Beta channel.

If Microsoft is expected to launch its dual-screen Surface Duo phone later this summer, the company isn’t going to abandon its existing partnership with Samsung, one of the biggest smartphone makers in the world. Samsung has just unveiled this morning its latest mobile devices including the Galaxy Note 20 and the Galaxy Tab 7, and the company used this opportunity to unveil new integrations between Galaxy devices and Microsoft services.

First of all, premium Samsung Galaxy smartphones have been enjoying a unique “Link to Windows” integration that provides a seamless way to take calls, check phone notifications, and more from a Windows 10 PC. The new Galaxy Note20 will push things even further with the ability to launch Android apps from your phone directly on your Windows 10 PC. This is different from the existing Your Phone “Phone Screen” feature that mirrors your smartphone screen on your Windows 10 PC.

“When you launch an app, it opens in a separate window, allowing you to multi-task and saving you the time and hassle of sign-in or set up. You can also pin your phone’s Android apps to your Windows 10 taskbar or Start menu for quick and easy access, making things like checking out your social feed or ordering your lunch while you wrap up a conference call even easier, without ever picking up your phone,” explained Yusuf Mehdi, CVP of Modern Life, Search & Devices at Microsoft.

When it launches on August 21, the new Galaxy Note 20 will only be able to project a single Android app to a Windows 10 PC, but accessing multiple apps side by side will be available later this year, Microsoft said. In addition to providing seamless access to Android apps from a Windows 10 PC, the Galaxy Note20 will also better integrate with Microsoft 365 apps such as OneNote, Outlook Tasks, and Microsoft To Do, and Microsoft Teams.

“Coming soon, notes from Samsung Notes can automatically sync with your OneNote feed in Outlook on the web or OneNote as an image. You can quickly jot down your notes from a meeting or grocery list with your S Pen on Galaxy Note20 and have instant access to the content in your productivity apps like Outlook and OneNote. You will also be able to sync Samsung Reminders from your Galaxy Note20 to your Windows 10 PC across Microsoft To Do, Outlook and Microsoft Teams experiences, so you can view and edit from anywhere, keeping your reminders aligned across your phone, PC and apps,” explained Mehdi.

Other Samsung devices will also benefit from this Microsoft partnership, with the new Samsung Galaxy Watch3 using Outlook as its native email client. Samsung also demoed its new Galaxy Tab7 being used as a second screen for Windows 10 PC, a capability that will be available later this year. This mirrors the “SideCar” feature that Apple implemented between Macs and iPads last year.

Last but not least, Samsung’s partnership with Microsoft extends to Xbox, with Samsung offering the Xbox Game Pass with cloud gaming on its Galaxy App Store. According to The Verge, this Xbox Game Pass app will be different from the regular app that will be available on the Google Play Store in September, with the exclusive ability to “redeem tokens and make in-app purchases like buying skins or DLC items in the Xbox Store.”

Samsung will also offer a Gaming Bundle for its new Galaxy Note20 that will include three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (with Cloud gaming included starting September 15), and a new Power A MOGA XP5-X Plus Bluetooth Controller with an attachable phone clip. This should be a great way to bring Xbox Game Pass and Cloud Gaming to the masses, especially since the Galaxy Note20 will support the ultra-fast 5G networks are mobile carriers are currently developing across the world.

Overall, these new integrations between Samsung devices, Windows 10 PCs, and Microsoft services should be great news for Galaxy fans, but Microsoft’s partnership with Samsung also makes us wonder about the necessity of the Surface Duo. Keep in mind that Samsung was one of the first smartphone manufacturers to launch foldable devices, and the company is also working with Microsoft to optimize the company’s apps for its new Galaxy Z Fold 2.

Looks like Samsung and Microsoft are working together to optimize Office apps for the Galaxy Z Fold 2 pic.twitter.com/6ZqZbyrLlG

— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) August 5, 2020

As of today, Samsung Galaxy devices provide better synergies with Windows 10 PCs through Your Phone and Link to Windows, and it’s not clear if Surface Duo early enthusiasts will enjoy the same seamless experience. Microsoft has yet to really explain why anyone would want a Surface Duo, and this ongoing partnership with Samsung, while great for consumers and Samsung, could make Surface Duo marketing a bit harder.

More information and launch details for Galaxy Z Fold2 will be available in September, but Microsoft’s Surface Duo will likely need to be cheaper if the company wants it to be an attractive alternative to Samsung’s premium device. In the meantime, the Galaxy Note20 will start at $999.99 and the bigger Galaxy Note20 Ultra at $1,299.99, and both devices will be available in the US starting August 21. Microsoft will likely offer both of them on its online store, as it did for the Galaxy S20 earlier this year.

Earlier this year, Microsoft announced that new Channel information pane would come to Microsoft Teams, which should make it easier to find new and relevant information in Teams channels. The company has recently announced that the feature is now generally available in the Microsoft Teams desktop and web apps. The new Channel info pane is now accessible via a new small “Channel info” icon in the channel header. It lets you track key channel details at a glance including a description of a specific channel, system messages, the online presence of all users, as well as a list of recent contributors and members.

Members

First off, the “Members” section in the channel info pane provides a list of all members who have access to a given channel or recently contributed to it. Microsoft Teams users can click the “See full list” option at the bottom to see a complete member list.

Moreover, people who have actively posted or replied to the channel over the last couple of months are listed in the “recently contributed” section. The list could be quiet long for active channels with hundreds of members. There is also a new “Add members” button available in the upper-right corner of the information pane.

About

Additionally, channel owners can use the About section to provide a description of their channel (as shown in the screenshot below). Channel information such as “Discuss Microsoft 365 projects” makes it easier for Team members to post in relevant channels without losing track of their projects.

Updates/System messages

Finally, system messages including recent channel and team updates are listed at the bottom of the information pane. It helps to keep an eye on who has joined or left the team during the last 12 months. Users can also click on the drop-down arrow to see more updates from a specific contributor.

It should be kept in mind that Channel information pane functionality is a bit different for private Teams channels, and we invite you to check out the Microsoft support document for more details.