As Microsoft is getting ready to kick off its X019 event in London tomorrow, you may not want to miss the upcoming Inside Xbox Live stream at 12PM PT tomorrow. Microsoft teased on Twitter that tomorrow’s live stream will be “our biggest episode ever,”and there’s a custom Twitter events page for following all the X019 action.

When we say our #X019 Inside Xbox is our biggest episode ever, we mean Biggest. Episode. Ever.

Tune in this Thursday on @WatchMixer: https://t.co/DCF9Suhl4b pic.twitter.com/oCBlxuWFt6

— Xbox (@Xbox) November 12, 2019

Once again, Microsoft will also offer free “MixPot” digital rewards to those of you who will watch Inside Xbox on Mixer tomorrow. This time, you’ll be able to earn an Obsidian Wheel for Sea of Thieves, a $5 X019 promotional pack for the Gears Pop! Mobile game, as well as a chance to win one year of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

We’re bringing you an exclusive MixPot fit for our biggest #InsideXbox ever!

• Obsidian Wheel for Sea of Thieves
• $5 Gears POP! X019 Promotional Pack
• A chance to win One-year of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Only on @WatchMixer: https://t.co/LTMyBe6o6g pic.twitter.com/qsbec39q34

— Xbox (@Xbox) November 13, 2019

Microsoft already revealed that this upcoming Inside Xbox episode will bring news from over 10 Xbox Game Studios titles, new game reveals, big news about Xbox Game Pass and Project xCloud, and much more. We’ll be covering the event live on Thursday, so stay tuned to OnMSFT for everything related to X019.

The Bee Simulator video game is now live on Microsoft’s family of Xbox One consoles. The game is one of very few titles that allow the player to experience the world from the perspective of a bee. Players can fly around and explore a park, collect pollen, avoid wasps, and play with up to three other players in local split-screen co-op and PVP matches.

Here’s the official game description:

See the world through the eyes of a bee! Explore a world inspired by Central Park where you can take part in bee races, collect pollen from rare flowers and defy dangerous wasps.

Play with friends or family in three game modes, including co-op and PvP on split screen.

The hive awakens as the sun’s first rays warm the horizon. It’s time to test your wings, receive orders from the Queen and begin your first mission. And that’s just the start of your adventures. Humans want to cut down the tree that holds your hive, so your fate – and that of the whole swarm – rests on your tiny shoulders!

Bee Simulator is currently selling on Xbox One with a 10% discount and the game will play in 4K when played on an Xbox One X console.
Let us know if you’ve played Bee Simulator in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest for more Xbox gaming content.

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Bee Simulator

Developer:
Bigben Interactive

Price:
$19.99

Since it’s release earlier today, Disney+ has been on the mind and lips of most people who stream media, visit theme parks, love animated movies, cherish the Star Wars lore, dabbled in Marvel’s Cinematic Universe, looking for way to pay less for combined services or need something new to entertain their children with while traveling; so basically everyone.

While Disney has primed the well pretty thoroughly with ways to grab its streaming content, there are still a few gaps in its accessibility that need to be addressed for some users such as the 500 million-plus users rocking Windows 10 enabled devices.

To be fair, there is a Disney+ app for Xbox One devices, which are typically included in that audacious 500 million stat by Microsoft, but realistically, there are still up to 400 million-plus people using Windows 10 who don’t have an official app to run towards to stream their favorite Disney content from a PC.

That is, until now.

Thanks to the power of Progressive Web Apps and Microsoft’s recent endeavor in revamping its internet browser with Chromium development, users can now use a nifty little 5-step workaround to get as close to a native app experience as possible for now.

Step 1: Download the goods

Download the latest Microsoft Edge Chromium-based beta browser, be it Canary, Beta, or Dev, here.

As part of the download and install process, also sync any Microsoft Accounts to get port over your internet browsing data from older IE and Edge apps, such as favorites, sync passwords, and even reading lists.

Step 2: Visit Disney+

Head to https://www.disneyplus.com/ to start a free trial, Buy Now or log into your new account.

Step 3: Manage Apps + Install

Now is the fun part. Head to the ellipses in the top left corner of your  Edge browser and select *Apps.

Once Apps is selected, scroll over to the Disney+ App logo next to Install This As an App and select.

Step 4: Name & Install

Now that desktop is primed to recognize the new install as Progressive Web App it’s created a logo and normally would name it the corresponding site name, but for some reason, it pops up nameless. This new turn of events allows users to create their own titles for the PWA.

Step 5: Pin to Start or Taskbar & Enjoy

Once the Disney+ PWA is installed, you can then pin the new icon to your Start Menu and/or Taskbar as any other app.

While it’s not the official download from the Microsoft Store or some sort of Win32 app, the PWA services just as well and offers full UI control over elements, unlike some other workarounds floating on the internet today.

The process to install the Chrome version of the Dinsey+ PWA is a very similar process that follows steps one and two respectively (downloading chrome and visiting Disney+), then navigate to the menu section in Chrome, selecting “More Tools,” “Create Shortcut” and voila, you now have a Chrome version of the PWA.

Now that Microsoft has quietly removed Mixer broadcasting from the Windows 10 Xbox Game Bar, the new Twitch Studio Beta app couldn’t be released at a better time. The Windows app is completely free to use, integrates nicely with Twitch, and is easier to use than popular third-party apps such as OBS or XSplit.

The Twitch Studio Beta is ready to download.

Starting right now, anyone can try out our streaming app designed for new streamers. Learn more: https://t.co/XyqpSHHS0A

— Twitch (@Twitch) November 12, 2019

Twitch already has a desktop app for Windows, which also serves as a game launcher for the free “Twitch Prime” games Amazon offers to Prime subscribers every month. Twitch Studio beta is a separate app that works on Windows 7 and newer, and it’s much more feature-complete than the built-in Mixer broadcasting feature on Windows 10 ever was. You’ll find guided setup to help you set up your mic, webcam, monitor resolution, and bitrate, and there are also customizable templates to make your stream look unique. Moreover, there are also integrated alerts for your Twitch activity.

If you previously tried streaming on Mixer from your Windows 10 PC, you should really give Twitch Studio a try. While the app is still in beta, it’s being updated regularly and the team also added a button for reporting bugs front and center.

As expected, Microsoft has just started rolling out the Windows 10 November 2019 Update to consumers already running the May 2019 Update. Starting today, the November 2019 Update (or Windows 10 version 1909) is available for “seekers,” which means that you can get it now by checking for updates manually in Windows Update. The Update should be labeled as “Feature update to Windows 10, version 1909”

In case you’re not seeing the update today, Microsoft notes that there may be a compatibility issue preventing you from getting it immediately. If you do see it in Windows Update, the November 2019 Update should install like a regular cumulative update, and the whole process should be pretty quick.

Here are the main new features included in the November 2019 Update, as explained by Microsoft today:

• Quickly creating an event directly from the Calendar flyout on the Taskbar.
• Better managing notifications, including a new button at the top of the Action Center and the ability to sort notifications by most recently shown.
• Integrating OneDrive content online with traditional indexed results in the File Explorer search box.
• The navigation pane on the Start menu now expands when you hover over it with your mouse to better inform where clicking goes.
• Using your voice to activate third-party digital assistants from the Lock screen.

If you want to learn more about this update, we invite you to check out our hands-on video.

As of this writing, we’re not seeing the update on our PCs, just this month’s Patch Tuesday update for Windows 10 version 1903. It may take some time for the November 2019 update to roll out, but please let us know in the comments if you’re able to download it today.

During Microsoft’s Ignite 2019 conference in Orlando this year the company dropped a few bombshells regarding its Microsoft 365 security offerings, Azure Synapse Analytics, Project Cortex and how Cortana is evolving across mobile and desktop, among other news.

Microsoft jam-packed a lot of news, announcements, developer sessions, and showroom floor demos into four days, and all of that info is now available in an on-demand streaming experience at the Windows Insider blog.

This year’s conference featured over 1,000 sessions showcasing new ways to migrate legacy workloads, the latest cloud technologies, innovative client development techniques, new ways to manage your infrastructure and more.

Anyone who is interested can select from the Insider Team’s cherry-picked options on the site that include Ignite archived session videos from The Future of Windows with WIP, WSUS and Configuration Manager, Group Policy and Intune for WIP as well as running your own Windows Insider Program at your organization among a host of others.

Head here to view the other 1,000 plus sessions from Ignite 2019.

Microsoft has come out in “strong” support for the California Consumer Privacy Act, a bill that was introduced to give individuals more control over the collection and reselling of their personal data. The company has committed to supporting the new standards—which are set to take affect on January 1 of next year—across all fifty U.S. states. Julie Brill, Microsoft’s Chief Privacy Officer and Corporate Vice President for Global Privacy and Regulatory Affairs, wrote in a blog post:

We are optimistic that the California Consumer Privacy Act — and the commitment we are making to extend its core rights more broadly — will help serve as a catalyst for even more comprehensive privacy legislation in the U.S. As important a milestone as CCPA is, more remains to be done to provide the protection and transparency needed to give people confidence that businesses respect the privacy of their personal information and can be trusted to use it appropriately.

For those unfamiliar, California’s new law—or CCPA for short—is the state’s new bill that brings new guidelines for consumer privacy. As part of the new act, companies will be required to be transparent about the data they collect and to whom it’s sold to. Additionally, consumers should be able to reject consent of the resale of their personal data, and even request their information to be completely deleted.

In addition to committing to providing more tools to help consumers understand and control their data, the company says it will work with enterprises to help them comply with California’s new law.

Microsoft’s commitment to complying with the CCPA in every state is similar to how it committed to following the EU’s GDPR guidelines outside of Europe. The U.S. Congress has been pretty quiet on consumer privacy issues, so the company’s commitments on its privacy tools should help both consumers feel better about their data as well as businesses in providing consumer privacy reassurance.

What do you think of Microsoft’s stance on consumer privacy? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Ahead of its hotly anticipated console release next year, Microsoft is slowly reenvisioning the way its gamers will regularly interact with the dashboard.

Today, Xbox Insiders will get a chance to test out some new changes to the Xbox One Home screen that include a new way to customize tiles and a new “Surprise Me” button that will surface recommendations on games to play.

Hey Alpha Skip-Ahead, users! You may notice some changes to the Xbox One Home, Guide, and your Collection Surprise me button soon on your console.

— Xbox Insider (@xboxinsider) November 11, 2019

Customizing your Home dashboard gets a little easier for Alpha Skip-Ahead! Pressing the View button on your Xbox One controller brings up a screen with more info to help setup your Home the way you like it. pic.twitter.com/JsIGwOFhL8

— Xbox Insider (@xboxinsider) November 11, 2019

The Surprise me button in Alpha Skip-Ahead users' Collections, located in the upper right of My Games & Apps, can help determine what to play next! Use it today. pic.twitter.com/R8QWi9aTCN

— Xbox Insider (@xboxinsider) November 11, 2019

Back in July of this year (2019), the Xbox team began testing a new dashboard look and flow with users opting into its Alpha and Skip Ahead release builds. The new dashboard is a bit more streamlined than the one that showed up with the original release of the Xbox One.

The UX team working on the reinvented dashboard applied emphasis on “dynamic content” surfacing in the UI while allowing for more customization of the home screen, allowing users to quickly access specific menus.

Today’s additions look to continue the theme of quick access by enabling new ways for users to set up their Home more their liking.

The new additions should be rolling out to Alpha and Skip Ahead beta testers through today pending a new download on an Xbox One console.

In a press conference in New Delhi, HP Inc. today introduced the HP Elite Dragonfly in India geared towards the always-on-the-go mobile business professionals.

The HP Elite Dragonfly is a sub-one-kilogram ultralight premium notebook that claims to offer the ‘world’s longest battery life in a 13-inch business convertible’ – up to 24.5-hour battery life.

The HP Elite Dragonfly boasts of a precision-crafted chassis from CNC-machined magnesium and a redesigned quiet and backlit keyboard with a glass touchpad. It sports a high screen-to-body ratio for a 13-inch business convertible at almost 86 percent. The notebook packs in the latest Wi-Fi 6 connectivity and comes with an optional gigabit-class 4G LTE.

HP Elite Dragonfly also offers a myriad of software add-ons including HP WorkWell, a personal wellbeing software, HP Sure Sense that defends against malware attacks on mobile workers using AI, and HP Sure Recover that gets users back up and running fast.

There are also privacy-focused features like HP Sure View Gen3, an integrated privacy screen, as well as HP Privacy Camera that helps users control what is shared with the world.

The HP Elite Dragonfly is expected to be available from December 1 starting at ₹149,990 ($2092).

Microsoft has quietly released a new system update for Xbox 360 consoles (via Reddit). It’s not clear yet what this new version of the OS (2.0.17559.0) includes, as the software giant has yet to add the release notes on the Xbox Support website. We’ll keep an eye on this page and we’ll update this post if we get more details about this new update.

The Xbox 360 received a previous system update back in August, which according to Microsoft brought “minor bug fixes and improvements.” Before that, the Xbox 360 OS received two updates in 2018 and 2016, which was the year when Microsoft stopped manufacturing the console.

As the Xbox 360 will celebrate its 14th anniversary on November 22, which is the date of the console’s US launch, it’s great to see that Microsoft is still supporting it as well as all of its Xbox Live online features. We hope this ongoing support will continue once Microsoft’s next-gen Project Scarlett console is released in holiday 2020.

Update 9:15AM PDT: The Xbox Support website now indicates that this new system update only brings “minor bug fixes and improvements,” just like the August update.

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.

Surface Pro X is Microsoft’s most repairable tablet ever according to iFixit

According to iFixIt, the Surface Pro X is Microsoft’s most repairable tablet ever, a strong accolade to hold when it’s generally quite difficult to repair devices yourself in this day and age.

Microsoft’s Chromium-based browser has a new icon that frees it from Edge and Internet Explorer’s past

Microsoft’s new Edge browser has received a new icon to differentiate it from Internet Explorer.

New Chromium-based Edge will start shipping with Windows 10 once the stable version is out

Once the stable version of Chromium-based Microsoft Edge is out, Windows 10 will begin shipping with the new Edge by default.

Microsoft ends Skip Ahead Ring for Windows Insiders beginning with Windows 10 build 19018

The Windows Insider program is going back to more simple times, as Microsoft is ending the Skip Ahead ring. The change starts from Windows 10 build 19018.

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

Microsoft kicked off the Project xCloud public beta in the US, the UK and South Korea last month, and if you didn’t receive your invite yet, you may now get the chance to get in. Xbox’s Major Nelson announced earlier today that Microsoft has started sending out more Project xCloud invitations, and you still have time to register if you want to get early access to the company’s cloud gaming service.

Before heading into the weekend, we’re sending out more Project xCloud preview invitations! If you’ve already registered, be on the lookout for an email. If you’re interested in participating, sign up here: https://t.co/Bb1M2e4tOS pic.twitter.com/N9J05l15zf

— Larry Hryb ????????☁ (@majornelson) November 8, 2019

As of today, the Project xCloud public beta only provides access to four Xbox Game Studios titles: Gears 5, Halo 5: Guardians, Sea of Thieves, and Killer Instinct. To try the service, you’ll need a Bluetooth-enabled Xbox Wireless controller, as well as a phone or tablet running Android 6 or newer. Microsoft hasn’t said yet when the service will be available on other devices, including iPhones, iPads, or PCs. With Google Stadia launching on November 19, it may be time for Microsoft to finally share more details about Project xCloud, and a tweet on the Xbox Twitter account just teased “big Project xCloud news” at X019 next week.

#X019 kicks off with an episode of Inside Xbox you won’t want to miss.

✅ 12 Xbox Game Studios titles (including new reveals and PC)
✅ New PC and Console game reveals for @XboxGamePass
✅ Big Project xCloud news

Tune in LIVE @WatchMixer November 14: https://t.co/lOycoVHid2 pic.twitter.com/0fIeytMIMj

— Xbox (@Xbox) November 8, 2019

We have yet to hear about the business model for Project xCloud, and there will hopefully be some synergies with Xbox Game Pass. It would probably be too much to ask Xbox Game Pass subscribers to pay for an additional subscription to access the cloud gaming service, especially when Google Stadia and Sony’s PlayStation Now service now cost just $9.99/month. Microsoft probably can’t ask for more than that for an Xbox Game Pass/Project xCloud monthly bundle, but we’ll see if the company is finally ready to discuss pricing details at X019 next week.

The new Surface Pro X is one of Microsoft’s most hotly anticipated devices of 2019. Unlike the Surface Pro 7, or the Surface Laptop 3, it’s quite different from anything the company has released before. It is also something that I’ve been quite excited for myself, which is why I went ahead and purchased one from the Microsoft Store for this review.

From its super-slim bezels, new Surface Slim Pen, and the custom Microsoft SQ1 processor powering the device, there’s a lot to talk about. Today we’ll be taking a quick look at all that and will be unboxing the Surface Pro X, and sharing some initial impressions ahead of our full review in the coming weeks.

Bezels, be gone!

As I took the Surface Pro X out of the box, the first thing I noticed is its slim bezels. A bit similar to an iPad Pro, the bezels are very slim on the right and left sides of the device. The top bezel is still a bit large, mainly due to the Windows Hello webcam on top. As for the bottom bezel, it almost disappears when the Type Cover keyboard is attached.

Compared to my older Surface Pro 2017, these slim bezels really make the device beautiful. It really brings out all the beauty of the 13-inch screen, and its 2880×1920 resolution. While not quite edge-to-edge like the XPS 13, it’s quite immersive, especially for me, as someone who is constantly stacking windows side by side when working.

Overall, the Surface Pro X still feels really nice to hold in my hands, thanks to its round corners and balanced weight. Great as it is, I am a bit concerned that the device will become a fingerprint magnet, but I think it’s something that I can get used to it over time with the proper care. I’m also a bit let down to see the omission of a MicroSD card slot, as this has been a signature feature of the Surface Pro since the original Surface.

But, all around, this still feels like a Surface Pro that I’ve always loved, with the design improvements I always wanted. Its black matte magnesium finish is still absolutely beautiful and cool to the touch. The kickstand still makes the device easy to use on my desk and my lap. The keyboard cover is still a magnetic attachment and increases the overall usability of the device. And, it’s all now flanked by a beautiful slim bezel and downright beautiful screen.

A note on the specs

Under the hood, Surface Pro X only features one SoC option. It’s powered by the Microsoft SQ1 processor paired with the Adreno 685 GPU. RAM options range from 8GB or 16GB, and there’s either 128, 256, or 512GB of removable SSD storage.

I opted for the most basic $1,000 model with 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. It should also be noted that the SSD in the Surface Pro X is technically removable, though Microsoft wants you to do that through authorized dealers.

Anyway, this SQ1 SoC is based on the Snapdragon 8cX processor and was designed in partnership with Qualcomm. Microsoft claims it can be as good as the Intel Core processors inside the older Surface Pro 6. It supposedly has three times more performance per watt than the 8th-generation CPUs.

We’ll be testing that later, and will run benchmarks in a separate post, but first, we want to mention that only 32-bit apps will work on this device through emulation. Yes, this Surface Pro X is powered by the full version of Windows 10 Pro, but since it’s an ARM device, there are limits to 32-bit apps only. It’s up to developers to recompile their apps to ARM64 for it to work on the Surface Pro X.

But for now, in my brief day or so with the device, it has proven good enough for web browsing in the 32-bit version of Microsoft’s Chromium-based browser. However, many early reviewers have reported issues with the SQ1 processor powering the Surface Pro X. Some have reported experiencing Blue Screen of Death, not being able to install their favorite apps, as well as random freezing when the device wakes.

After a day-two firmware update, so far in my time with the device, I haven’t had any of those issues. However, coming from a Surface Pro 5, I did notice that apps from the Microsoft Store and even Windows 10 updates were kind of slow to download and install. But, I took the Surface Pro X on the road for me for Microsoft’s HoloLens showcase event in New York City, and it was very reliable for web browsing, writing up a draft post in Word, and more I didn’t experience any freezing, but you can expect my more in-depth analysis and some comparisons in the future full-review.

I’ll also want to mention that this is an always-connected PC. This means that you’ll be able to live a life free of WiFi. You’re getting up to Gigabit LTE Advanced Pro via the nanoSIM and eSIM tray on the device. That’s thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon X24 LTE Modem built-in. There’s even the “instant-on” feature. I set the device down, and it’s able to resume right where I left off, right away, without any drain to the battery.

Do you see the USB-C?

As I pointed out in my original hands-on, another thing I noticed with the Surface Pro X is the USB-C ports. There’s two alongside the left side on the device. You’ll also find the Surface Connect port on the right side.

Sadly, there’s no headphone jack, which means I needed to use my Bluetooth Surface Headphones with my Surface Pro X. Lacking a good quality USB-C to USB-C cable at the moment, I also needed to use a dongle to connect up my camera and phone to transfer photos and the video for the post. But USB-C does offer one advantage, I was able to charge up my Surface with my portable power bank. Microsoft quotes a total of 13 hours of battery, and the Surface Pro X supports quick charge, but I only experienced about 10 hours in my testing so far. I’ll be sticking to the regular version of Edge for the full-review to test the full potential of the device.

I’ll also mention that these USB-C ports don’t support Thunderbolt 3, which is a letdown since it means that you can’t use an external GPU to go with it. Still, after years of seeing MiniDisplay Port and USB-A on the Surface Pro lineup, this is quite refreshing.

A fairly great type cover to go along

Moving along, is the need to mention the new Type Cover Keyboard with the Surface Pro X. Overall, typing on it feels about the same as it did on my older Surface Pro 5 Type Cover. However, clicking the trackpad feels a bit more hollow and loud, that could be due to it being new and there being no wear and tear.  It’s very loud, so much so that my mother heard me clicking my way through typing this review, and asked what was making that annoying noise.

The way the Type Cover attaches to the screen is also a bit weird. Since the pen is in the middle of the connector on the top of the keyboard, only the two sides grip the screen. This means it the Surface Pro X is quickly rocked or moved, the keyboard just a tiny a bit to the right and the left. Otherwise, it’s fairly comfortable. I haven’t experienced the weird sensation that Tom Warren experienced, where his Surface Pro X type cover covers the entire taskbar.

Surface Slim pen feels great

Now, for the Surface Slim Pen. To me, having the flat pen is more ergonomic than having a round pen, like with the older Surface Pen.  It fits in my hand more easily, although the “click” button is now in the thin facing side of the pen, and harder to reach.

This new pen is housed in the keyboard, and, coming from the Surface Pro 5, I sometimes forgot it was even there. I was just too used to seeing it snapped to the side of my Surface, so that’s something I did. I will have more on the pen experience in my full review, but for now, I’ll mention that it’s rechargeable via that cradle in the keyboard.

Quite impressed, for now…

At the end of the day, I’m quite impressed with the new Surface Pro X after just two days of use. All around, it’s a nice device. However, given it’s powered by Windows 10 on ARM, I am still concerned about the overall reliability of this new Surface device. While the experience with 32-bit app-emulation has been solid for me so far, and the battery life decent, it might be subject to change as I put more use into the device. Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks.

The latest entry in the popular Need For Speed video game franchise, Need For Speed Heat, is now available to play on Microsoft’s family of Xbox One consoles.

The game is available in a regular edition and a Deluxe Edition that comes with the base game and a variety of in-game character outfits, cars, and 5% boosts for REP and BANK rewards.

Here’s the official game description and launch trailer:

Burn through the streets of Palm City in Need for Speed Heat. By day, earn bank to create your perfect ride through sanctioned Speedhunters Showdown events. By night, enter illicit street races alongside your crew, earning rep and building heat. But stay ready – cops are waiting and not all of them play fair. The roads and the rides are endless in this twenty-four-hour street racer where only the fast are free to chase the line, risk everything, and burn all limits.

The Need For Speed series began way back in 1994 and has become a constant presence in the gaming industry ever since with new entries being released on an almost yearly basis. Need For Speed Heat is the 24th main Need For Speed video game and supports online multiplayer for up to 16 players and also renders in 4K Ultra HD when played on an Xbox One X console.

Are you a Need For Speed fan? How many titles have you played? Let us know what your favorite game is in the comments below and then follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for more Xbox gaming content.

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Need for Speed™ Heat

Developer:
Electronic Arts

Price:
Free

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Need for Speed™ Heat Deluxe Edition

Developer:
Electronic Arts

Price:
$10.49

Xbox Live Gold members can try some new games this weekend, as Microsoft has introduced three new titles to the Free Play Days lineup for gamers to enjoy. The official Xbox Twitter account in France tweeted the news: “Here are 3 good reasons to play during this long weekend!”

Voilà 3 bonnes raisons de jouer pendant ce long week-end ! pic.twitter.com/4KSqnIKv3Q

— Xbox FR (@XboxFR) November 7, 2019

First off, Bethesda’s MMORPG title The Elder Scrolls Online is free to play right now, and players can see all of what the base game offers all the way until November 13. While the Elsweyr upgrade might not be included in this free trial, there’s still plenty quests, crafting, and exploration to keep you going. And if you enjoy your experience, the base game is also on sale for half off, which brings it to just $9.99 right now.

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The Elder Scrolls® Online

Developer:
Bethesda Softworks

Price:
Free

Cities: Skylines and The Surge are also free to play on the Xbox One for Gold members, although you only have until November 10 to play these games. The first one is already free to play for Xbox Game Pass for Console subscribers, but now Gold members also have a very brief opportunity to play the game before buying—or potentially upgrading to Game Pass Ultimate. For the latter title, Gold members can purchase it for $4.99—or 75% off—for a limited time.

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Cities: Skylines – Xbox One Edition

Developer:
Paradox Interactive

Price:
Free

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The Surge

Developer:
Focus Entertainment

Price:
$2.99

If you haven’t already, you can sign up for Xbox Live here:

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Xbox Live Gold Membership (Digital Code)

Developer:
Microsoft Corporation

Price:
Free

Which game will you most likely be playing this weekend? Be sure to drop a comment down below to let us know what you think about them.

Metro 2033: Redux, the remastered version of the post-apocalyptic shooter has just been added to Xbox Game Pass for PC today. The game is joining Metro: Exodus on the catalog, which is the latest installment of the Metro franchise released earlier this year on PC and consoles.

Even though the store listing doesn’t mention it, the game does support Xbox Live Achievements, as seen on its Game Hub xbox.com. Not all Xbox Game Pass for PC games support Xbox Live Achievements, but developers doing the extra effort to add them definitely deserve some credit.

It’s been nearly six month since Xbox Game Pass for PC launched in beta on Windows 10 version 1903, and the subscription service is about to lose its first games: Pony Island, The Surge, and Tyranny – Gold Edition will be removed from the catalog next week on November 15, but hopefully these will be replaced by new games very soon. The Xbox team said today that it will have more Xbox Game Pass news to share during the X019 event in London next week, and we’ll let you know as soon as we get more information.

If you have yet to try Xbox Game Pass for PC, you can get one month for just $1 for a limited time. Additionally, you can also get 3 months of Xbox Game Pass for PC for free when you purchase select Alienware PCs, and you can find more information on Dell’s website.

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Metro 2033 Redux

Developer:
Deep Silver

Price:
$19.99

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PC Game Pass

Developer:
Microsoft Corporation

Price:
$1.00

The Lord of the Rings: Adventure Card Game launched on Microsoft’s family of Xbox One consoles earlier this week. The game went live with very little fanfare which is rather surprising given the prestige of the property and reputation of Lord of the Rings video games on Xbox consoles.

This The Lord of the Rings: Adventure Card Game title is, as its name implies, a digital card game in the vein of Gwent and Hearthstone. It features numerous characters and species from The Lord of the Rings and supports online support for player versus player matches.

Unlike Gwent and Hearthstone which are both free-to-play titles, The Lord of the Rings: Adventure Card Game is retailing for $24.99 which may restrict its playerbase someone. It is, however, available to play for free for all Xbox Game Pass subscribers so this could be a way to build up a following.

Here’s the official (long) game description and launch trailer:

Build a deck of iconic Heroes and challenge the forces of Sauron in this thrilling tactical card game. Go forth on your own or join forces with a friend and explore famous locations, complete story-driven quests, and forge your own legend of Middle-earth. But beware the Eye of Sauron—should you draw his attention, all will be lost…

Answer the call of countless adventures, face the dark forces of Sauron, and protect the Free Peoples of Middle-earth. As allies gather and foes arise, so your journey begins.

The time has come to form and lead your own fellowship of heroes through immersive story-driven campaigns—each with its own unique narrative and challenges.
Pick three Heroes from some of the most emblematic characters of Middle-earth, then build your deck around their specific abilities and powers. Each Hero belongs to one of four Spheres of Influence—Leadership, Lore, Spirit, or Tactics—which allows you to play specific cards while in-game. Choose wisely when building your deck to make the most of each Hero and gain the advantage against Sauron’s forces. Each story-driven Campaign is set in famous locations across Middle-earth, providing hours of thrilling gameplay where each choice you make will forge a legend that will be sung about for ages to come.

While your journeys may contain great challenges, taking advantage of your Heroes and your customized decks will earn you victory in battle. Sometimes combining the strength of multiple champions from the same Sphere of Influence can help you overcome the swarms of Enemies that you will face. You might also apply your Characters’ Willpower to the Fate Pool and trigger powerful abilities that can turn the tide of battle. Each Quest is different, and there is no single path to victory—find the deck and the strategy that works for your fellowship!

Every Quest will require experimenting with different strategies as you confront ever more terrifying foes, ranging from giant Spiders to fierce Trolls, and even hordes of powerful Orcs! The Dark Lord will do everything in his power to prevent you from completing your journey. Watch out for the Threat Pool—as its total increases, Sauron can unleash story-specific events to make your Quest more difficult. Take care—if you reach the maximum Threat level, you will suffer Sauron’s full attention and fail your Quest!

Are you a fan of Lord of the Rings and will you give this card game a try? Let us know why or why not in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest, Twitter, and Facebook for more Xbox gaming content.

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QR-Code

The Lord of the Rings: Adventure Card Game – Definitive Edition

Developer:
Twin Sails Interactive

Price:
$19.99

During an Ignite 2019 session called “State of the browser: Microsoft Edge,” Microsoft officially confirmed that their new Microsoft Edge web browser, an essential redesign of their current Edge browser, will be coming to the Linux operating system sometime in the future.

The reference to Linux was mentioned at the end of a list of supported platforms (cheers WL for the eagle eyes) on a slide titled “The new Microsoft Edge is fully cross-platform.” No release date, let alone a window, is mentioned for the Linux version of Microsoft Edge with the words “available in the future” being the only concrete info provided.

The new version of the Microsoft Edge web browser is already in testing with Insiders on Windows 10 and macOS and is expected to officially launch in public on January 15th next year. Mobile versions of the Edge browser are also available on iOS and Android devices.

Are you excited for the new Edge browser? Would you use it on Linux? Let us know in the comments below and then follow us on Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook for more Edge news.

After more Microsoft news from Ignite 2019? Check out all of the exciting announcements here.

Ever since its introduction back in 2016, Microsoft’s collaboration software, Teams, has come a long way. The company is always tweaking the experience and adding new features that make it better compete with Slack and be more useful for users. In fact, at one point, Teams reached 13 million daily active users, which is more than Slack.

We here at OnMSFT have covered this all extensively. From a catalog of growing apps, file sharing experiences, chat filters, pinned channels, and so much more, Microsoft has put in all the efforts for Teams to catch up with Slack.

Indeed, Teams has been on a long journey, but there’s so much more ahead. At Ignite 2019, some new features were announced for the experience. Here’s a look at where Teams will be going heading into the future.

More ways to customize your Microsoft Teams experience

As we pointed out in our comparison piece, Microsoft Teams currently features a UI with a lot of menus and buttons to navigate. Heading into the future, though, Microsoft is hoping to change that. The company is planning on adding a new Multiwindow feature to the app early next year in 2020. With this feature, you’ll have the option to pop-out chats, meetings, calls, and documents into separate windows. This will help streamline your work, as you’ll be able to have what matters most on top of your current workflow.

In addition, for privacy, currently, it is not possible to restrict access to a channel in Microsoft Teams. This is something that’s present in Slack, but will be coming to Teams soon. With the new Private Channel feature, users can create channels within existing teams that can be viewed and accessed by only select members of that team. It will be available from the privacy settings of the new channel.

Finally, Microsoft is also bringing over some more messaging extensions already seen on Slack. This includes a new Polls and Surveys option. Starting next year, clicking on the “…” in the bottom of a message compose box in a chat will give you access to polling and survey options, to get better feedback on questions and other items.

New integrations with the other Office 365 Apps

One of the greatest strengths of Microsoft Teams over Slack is its integrations with other Office 365 apps and services. Well, heading into early next year, Microsoft will be further plugging in the other Office 365 apps like Yammer, To-Do, and Outlook within Teams.

Starting first with Outlook. Next year, you’ll be able to collaborate in Teams directly from Outlook. You’ll be able to move an email conversation from Outlook, attachments, and into a Teams channel or conversation via a new “Share to Teams button.” Conversations from Teams can also be sent to Outlook by clicking on the … options in the conversation.

Other integrations with Outlook include improved missed Microsoft Teams activity emails. These will now be much more actionable, showing missed conversations, replies, and an ability to respond directly from Outlook.

Now, for the To-Do integration. Starting early next year, you’ll be able to see a new “Tasks” bar in the Teams navigation area on the left side. This will show you tasks from across To Do, Teams Channels, Planner, and Outlook. There even will be a smart view, which will show the priority of tasks as well as the end or due dates.

Finally, Microsoft will be introducing a new Yammer app for Microsoft Teams. This will make most communities, conversations, and live events from Yammer available directly from Teams. You’ll be able to pin the app on the left rail of Teams to have quick access to it.

Other key changes

In addition to the above, Microsoft is planning some smaller changes to Teams that will make things easier for Firstline workers who use it. A new SMS Sign-on feature will reduce the friction when signing into Teams with a phone number, and a one-time SMS passcode. Microsoft will also be adding a new Off-shift access feature for Teams on iOS and Android, which will provide users a notification when they’re using Teams on a personal device, and aren’t within payable working hours.

For IT Admins, there are some key new features that will help manage Teams as well as protect important company data. With a new Advisor for Teams features, it will be easier to deploy Teams across an organization. A new App Catalog will also help make it easier for IT Admins to get the information they need before enabling apps from Teams. Admins will even be able to enable new Safe Links options for Teams, which is powered by Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection, and will safeguard users from harmful links in real-time.

Finally, for developers, those who are creating Power Apps will be able to publish their apps in Teams. Users will also be able to pin a Power App to the left bar in Teams. New power automates features in Teams will also allow users to create automated workflows within the app. And, new Power Bi interactive cards in Teams will allow users to quickly find and take actions on data.

Most of these new features are scheduled to go live in early 2020. Keep it tuned to OnMSFT, as we will be going hands-on with them.

Microsoft’s Chromium-based Edge browser got its official launch date—it will be available on January 15, for those who missed Monday’s news. But as exciting as that might sound for some, that doesn’t mean that everyone will get it right off the bad.

As Neowin points out, the new Edge browser will likely roll out to users on a gradual basis. Microsoft will bring the stable version of the browser to a small handful of users, and eventually roll it out to more users if it proves stable enough. This follows the company’s typical habits of careful testing of its services, especially as bad press would be the last thing it needs while launching something new like this.

As far as to which version of Windows 10 will come bundled with the new Edge—well, the answer isn’t so simple. Unlike the legacy version of Edge, the newer browser will update completely independently from Windows 10. Microsoft will eventually roll it out to OEMs sometime after its general availability.

In other words, it’s not about when it’ll be bundled with Windows, it’s about when it will be available to you. If you’re not too keen on waiting, Microsoft has already introduced the Release Candidate of Microsoft Edge in the beta channel, if you’re interested in giving it a try.

Are you looking forward to the new Edge? Or do you think it needs some more work? Feel free to drop a comment down below.

The new Definitive Edition of the Shadow of the Tomb Raider video game is now available to play on Microsoft’s Xbox One family of consoles.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition features the base game plus all of the downloadable content (DLC) that has been release post-launch such as the new tombs and extra appearances, weapons, and abilities.

Here’s the official game description and trailer:

In Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition experience the final chapter of Lara’s origin as she is forged into the Tomb Raider she is destined to be. Combining the base game, all seven DLC challenge tombs, as well as all downloadable weapons, outfits, and skills, Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition is the ultimate way to experience Lara’s defining moment.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider is the last game in the Tomb Raider modern reboot trilogy that explores the origins of the character, Lara Croft. This trilogy began with Tomb Raider and was followed by Rise of the Tomb Raider. Both titles also have Definitive Editions on Xbox One.

Have you played Shadow of the Tomb Raider yet? Share your thoughts on it in the comments below and then follow us on Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook for more Xbox gaming news.

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Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition

Developer:
Crystal Dynamics

Price:
Free

The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 is now available to purchase online and in stores. Pre-orders for new controller have also begun shipping to customers.

The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 is Microsoft’s successor to their Xbox Elite Wireless Controller which itself was a more advanced iteration of the regular Xbox Wireless Controller. While this new controller features a variety of subtle design improvements, the main reason to pick up the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 is the addition of Bluetooth support, which will help it function with a wider variety of devices, and a built-in rechargeable battery.

As with all of the other Xbox Wireless Controllers, the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 works with Windows 10 devices and Xbox One consoles and will also work with Microsoft’s upcoming next gen Xbox console, currently going by the codename Xbox Project Scarlett, due for release in late-2020.

The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 can be purchased on the official Microsoft Store website and Amazon though is also available in all of the usual online and offline retailers that sell video game supplies.

Check out our special hands-on with the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 here.

Are you going to pick up a Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2? Let us know why or why not in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest for more Xbox gaming content.

Once again, Microsoft and Nokia are metaphorically in bed together but this latest partnership should leave fewer fanboys enraged, business divisions in shambles and workers unemployed.

Since the fall of Windows Phone under the stewardship of Steve Elop and Steve Ballmer and the combined efforts of Nokia and Microsoft, people have been wary of seeing the two shake hands on any collaborative efforts, but over the past few years, the two companies have partnered on several occasions that have flown under the public radar but have had huge public-facing benefits.

Today, Microsoft and Nokia have announced another partnership that will have the two tackling mission-critical networking and communications, that only tangentially involves a smartphone.

Microsoft and Nokia today announced a strategic collaboration to accelerate transformation and innovation across industries with cloud, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT). By bringing together Microsoft cloud solutions and Nokia’s expertise in mission-critical networking, the companies are uniquely positioned to help enterprises and communications service providers (CSPs) transform their businesses. As Microsoft’s Azure, Azure IoT, Azure AI and Machine Learning solutions combine with Nokia’s LTE/5G-ready private wireless solutions, IP, SD-WAN, and IoT connectivity offerings, the companies will drive industrial digitalization and automation across enterprises, and enable CSPs to offer new services to enterprise customers.

Speaking of CSPs, Microsoft and Nokia plan to host Nokia’s Analytics Virtualization and Automation (AVA) cognitive services on Azure allowing CSPs to move away from hosting their own private data centers to Microsoft’s Azure cloud. The subsequent reality of the move for most CSPs is a reduction in operation cost as companies shift to 5G.

Following the launch of the Surface Pro 7 and Surface Laptop 3 last month, Microsoft’s ARM-powered Surface Pro X is available today with prices starting at $999. This is Microsoft’s first ARM tablet since the Surface 2 running Windows RT, though the Pro X runs full Windows 10 with some compromises due to the ARM chip.

So far, early reviews of the Surface Pro X have been pretty mixed. It’s worth noting that Microsoft apparently sent review units to just a few media outlets, including popular tech blogs such as The Verge  and Engadget. Most reviews highlighted that the custom-designed Microsoft SQ1 ARM processor seem to deliver good performance, but it seems that the tablet fails to deliver the advertised 13 hours of battery life, especially when using emulated Win32 apps.

The tablet also received criticism for its buggy software, the lack of headphone jack, and the Surface Type Cover: It seems that adding a slot for the new Surface Pen makes the Type Cover a bit wobbly, and that it can hide the Windows 10 task bar when a certain amount of pressure is applied.

I haven’t seen many Surface Pro X reviews mention this, but it’s a major problem to me. The keyboard is really wobbly, and as a result it’s often wonky or even cuts off the taskbar when it’s on your lap. Depends how you sit, but it’s a regression imo pic.twitter.com/GHfHePsURz

— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) November 5, 2019

There’s obviously a lot to like about the Surface Pro X hardware, but it’s still early days for Windows 10 on ARM and the Surface Pro X probably won’t appeal to many due to the compatibility issue with x64 apps. Our own Arif Bacchus has pre-ordered the Surface Pro X, so stay tuned for our full review of the new tablet coming very soon.

The other new product that Microsoft launched this week is the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, which we got the chance to try at gamescom in August. The new controller, which Microsoft claims to be the world’s most advanced game controller, comes with new interchangeable thumbstick and paddle shapes, a a wrap-around rubberized grip, a built-in battery lasting up to 40 hours, and a charging case. $179.99 is a lot to ask for a game controller, though keep in mind that all Xbox controllers will be compatible with Project Scarlett when the next-gen Xbox console launches in holiday 2020.

With all of Microsoft’s cross-platform initiatives in 2019, you’re technically no longer limited to just Microsoft devices like a Surface. Generally speaking, the same Microsoft apps and services you enjoy on Windows 10 are also available across other platforms like iOS, macOS, and Android.

So with the recent wave of reviews and talks about Google’s new Pixelbook Go, I really wondered, can this cute little device serve as a “Microsoft” laptop keen to a Surface? With my Surface Pro X still on the way, I’ve been spending the last few days with it as my main laptop, and here’s the answer to that question, straight from the mouth of someone who is heavily integrated into Microsoft’s ecosystem.

A Microsoft laptop that’s all about the Google Play Store

Although Chrome OS was initially limited to the Chrome web browser and PWA apps, in recent times Google unlocked the platform’s true potential with access to the Google Play Store. Over the few days I’ve been spending with the Pixelbook Go, I realized that it is this that sort of makes the Pixelbook Go like a true Microsoft laptop. It essentially feels like the same way you could turn an Android Phone into a Microsoft Phone, just by using Microsoft apps.

Anyway, I quickly discovered that some of the core apps I typically use on my Windows 10 laptops are all available on Chrome OS. For me, this includes Microsoft Teams and Slack for work. Then, for personal use, there are the other Office 365 apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. There are even some other Office 365 apps like OneDrive and Outlook. Other apps like Xbox are not available on Chrome OS, however.

In combination with my work in WordPress in the Chrome web browser, these apps get the same workflow I would on Windows 10. I’m able to write a draft of stories in Microsoft Word, respond to emails through the Outlook app, and keep in touch with colleagues across my two jobs with Slack and Teams. But, is it pretty as it is on a Windows 10 laptop? The short answer is No.

It’s great as a Microsoft laptop, but there are some limits

As great as having all these apps are, there’s one important point to note. Most Microsoft apps available on Chrome OS via the Google Play Store are simply just ports of Android apps. This means they’re not optimized for Chrome OS laptops and aren’t the full fledged desktop apps as seen on Windows 10. While you can use these apps to get your tasks done, in some cases, that also means they aren’t as powerful or feature complete. This could perhaps be a reason that many people can’t see the Pixelbook Go as a “Microsoft” laptop.

For instance, both the Microsoft Teams and Slack app offers me a different user interface and layout than it would on Windows 10. The overall experience of these apps is a bit similar to how it would appear it would appear if set my Android phone to landscape mode. Coming from using a Surface and Windows 10 as my main device, this was a bit frustrating. To switch between channels in Teams I constantly needed to press the back button, and head back to the main page. There’s also no sidebar from within the app, as is on Windows 10. Most times, I did find myself using the web versions of these apps instead.

Additionally, some of these Microsoft apps on the Chrome OS Google Play Store are not as fully-featured as they are on Windows 10. For instance, the OneNote application feels like an oversized Android app. There’s no dark mode support, you can’t resize the sidebar, and overall navigation and touch interface isn’t as intuitive as it is in Windows 10.

There’s even an integration with OneDrive in the ChromeOS Files Explorer when the OneDrive app is installed, but that too is limited. Unlike on Windows 10, you can’t drag and drop files between the OneDrive section of the Files app in Chrome OS. Files in OneDrive are stuck in a “Read Only” mode, though you can still right-click to copy them out to the download folder in the Chrome OS system. But to copy files to a OneDrive account, from Chrome OS you’ll still need to head to the dedicated OneDrive app.

It even syncs up with your Android phone, and Timeline in Windows 10

Microsoft has made great progress with its Your Phone app on Windows 10. As we’ve extensively covered, you’re able to get texts, photos, and notifications from your Android device over on your PC. You even can see the items you’ve started on your Phone, on your PC with the power of Windows Timeline and the Microsoft Edge app. Quite obviously, these features are not present on a Pixelbook Go, but there are Google alternatives and workarounds for it for those hoping to use it as a “Microsoft laptop”

For one, the Google Messages app allows you to send and receive text messages from your Android phone on the Pixelbook Go or any other PC. Other apps from my Android phone  (like Snapchat, ESPN, Instagram) are also available on the Pixelbook Go, so if I log into these apps on the laptop, I’ll get the same notifications I normally would. As for my synced photos, when I opened up the OneDrive Android app on my Pixelbook Go, most of my photos from my phone that have been backed up to my OneDrive, appeared on my Pixelbook Go.

Finally, there’s the need to address Windows Timeline. While Timeline usually syncs up activities from Edge on mobile, it’s important to note that while the Edge browser is technically available on the Chrome OS Google Play Store, it is almost unusable. In my time, the app would install and launch, but it refused to navigate to webpages at all. This means that on the Pixelbook, you’re stuck with using Google Chrome. However, I did find that there is an extension that can be installed for Chrome on ChromeOS that will sync activities in Timeline. This means that the same websites I opened in Chrome, later appeared back on my Windows 10 PC, and even on my Android phone.

The hardware is just like a Windows 10 or Microsoft Laptop

Finally, there’s the need to address the physical hardware aspect of the story. Microsoft is known for its excellent hardware, and so is Google. So, does the Pixelbook Go have the same quality and feel like a premium Microsoft laptop or Surface? The answer is yes.

My full thoughts on the build quality and design of the Pixelbook Go are available over at my other job, but seeing as though I’m a Microsoft-fan, I think it’s just as good as anything Microsoft ever made. I’ve never quite seen a Windows laptop that’s quite as petite and compact as the Pixelbook Go. For a clamshell laptop, it feels very portable, slim, and light and is very curvy.

Overall, it really reminiscent of what you can get with a Surface Go. The screen, however, is bigger than what’s on the Surface Go, and there’s the clamshell format too. The keyboard is also much better than anything I’ve ever found on a Surface. Keys have a nice soft-feeling and there’s some bounce back when typing.

Unlike Microsoft which has stuck to strange gimmicks like an Alcantara keyboard to make it’s clamshell devices unique, Google really nailed the hardware aspect of the Pixelbook Go. In going back to a clamshell format, there are no gimmicks. Someone who is used to a traditional Windows 10 laptop can just pick one up and feel right at home.

The short answer is yes, depending on your needs

At the end of the day, I think the Pixelbook Go can serve as a Microsoft laptop if you really want it to. The apps and services you need are all there to enjoy everything Microsoft related, but you might run into some frustrations since you’ll be relying on Android and web experiences or apps.

It is perhaps similar to what Windows 10 Mobile fans once experienced when Microsoft gave up on the platform. You can move yourself to Google’s Android or Chrome OS, but only enjoy it if you stick to the Microsoft apps and services Google Play Store.

Putting it all together, you’re still using a Google product, and there’s nothing better than taking the $650 spent for Pixelbook Go and buying a real Windows 10 machine. You might even enjoy the Surface Pro X, which we’re planning to review next.

As we migrate more and more services to the cloud we are faced with the questions related to how our systems will perform in these new environments. Azure allows us the flexibility of hosting our services and applications across many regions which is very powerful and convenient. But selecting the best location for your systems still remains crucial to ensuring your customers are getting the best possible experience.

Azure Internet Analyzer is the perfect tool for that job. This client-side measuring platform allows you to quantify the performance impact your customers will experience based on your network and infrastructure configurations. By embedding a small JavaScript client into your application you can measure latency from various regions by running multiple side-by-side tests allowing you to evaluate the performance of your web application from an end user’s perspective.

What does that mean exactly? Let’s say your application mainly serves an audiences based in the continental United States, but you have some users reporting performance or latency issues with your systems in the northeast. By leveraging this new tool you can quickly make informed decisions as to what the best location for your application should be to provide a consistent experience your audience.

This system is still in preview and should not be used for mission critical or production environments at this point. Now that we got that disclaimer out of the way I can tell you its extremely easy to configure and use. There are three basic steps involved. You start by setting up a new Internet Analyzer resource in Azure, then installing the JavaScript client into your application. The final step is collecting the results and using them to find and address potential latency issues which could you be impacting your customers. How you tackle that problem is up to you. There are many approaches, one of the most comprehensive and effective is utilizing a CDN or Content Delivery Network, which Microsoft also offers. You can learn more about Azure CDN here.

When a user visits the Web application, the JavaScript client selects two endpoints to measure across all configured tests. For each endpoint, the client performs a cold and warm measurement. The cold measurement incurs additional latency beside the pure network latency between the user and endpoint such as DNS resolution, TCP connection handshake, and SSL/TLS negotiation. The warm measurement follows just after the cold measurement completes and takes advantage of modern browsers’ persistent TCP connection management to get an accurate measure of end-to-end latency.

There is a ton of news coming out of MS Ignite 2019, but this one is very exiting for me! Do you share your enthusiasm? Although others tools like it exist, do you find having this functionality as part of Azure’s offering appealing?

If you’re up and running with Windows 20H1 preview build 19013, it is time to head to Windows Update for some goodies from Microsoft. The company has just announced the release of Windows 10 20H1 build 19013.1102 to Fast Ring Windows Insiders. This is just a minor update and primarily fixes an issue with Remote Desktop.

Fast ring Insiders: There's an update coming your way to fix a bug causing issues with remote desktop. Build 19013.1102 is now available. See the blog post for more details: https://t.co/5ugcL868X0

— Windows Insider (@windowsinsider) November 4, 2019

According to Microsoft, this build fixes the issue where DWM in the Remote Desktop app would start crashing and the session window would either go totally black, experience black flashes or sign out of the remote desktop session altogether. The release of this new build comes just three days after build 19013.1000 (KB4528332) was pushed out to Windows Insiders. That release didn’t come with any other fixes or changes and rather tested the servicing pipeline.

Microsoft’s latest fall hardware event teased a myriad of devices, all with public release dates ranging from mid-October 2019 to sometime in late 2020, with arguably, the most intriguing devices following the former release schedule.

Despite their holiday 2020 projected release dates, Microsoft’s dual 9-inch Duo and dual 5-inch Neo mobile devices are popping up in the wild this year.

During Microsoft Ignite 2019, several company executives and keynote speakers have been freely demoing use case scenarios of Microsoft’s various enterprised focused development tools and software on both devices, on stage.

Most notably, was a session discussing the upcoming platform updates to Microsoft 365 where Sharepoint and Visio executive Jared Spataro popped open his Surface Neo to showcase how the company is integrating Microsoft 365 with its future hardware initiatives.

Surface Neo uses the thinnest LCD screens ever produced. Surface Duo got a mention at the Microsoft 365 #MSIgnite keynote too but no demo. pic.twitter.com/8NYzXOm1at

— Ginny Caughey (@gcaughey) November 4, 2019

Spataro wasn’t the only Microsoft employee to be wielding a future device from the company as two other executives on the conference floor were also helping CEO Satay Nadella express the business vision of Microsoft 365 and tightly integrated hardware.

Surface Neo and Surface Duo get some screen time here at the #MSIgnite Vision Keynote during the Microsoft 365 segment. cc @panos_panay pic.twitter.com/Hinxlb3uEb

— Richard Hay (@WinObs) November 4, 2019

With the Surface Duo slated to be running Android, it’ll be interesting to see how much of Microsoft 365’s special sauce makes it to that device in the future.

Either way, it should be encouraging to see the company’s new foldable devices in the wild this early out from its proposed release date, allowing real-world usage to help iron out further potential bugs, hardware glitches or other potentially show-stopping issues.

Microsoft has unloaded a truckload of new product announcements at this year’s Ignite, including a launch date for Edge Chromium, new integration for the Power Platform including a newly renamed Flow (it’s Power Automate now), new tools for Microsoft Teams, and a new service from Azure called Arc, which lets IT pros manage cloud services across cloud platforms (read: on AWS). Microsoft seems intent on broadening the scope of Ignite as the scope of IT itself broadens, not being shy about Surface product placements and developer focused news.

Along that front, Microsoft made two significant dev related announcements today. First up is that Visual Studio Online has launched. This extension of Visual Studio Code Remote Development allows devs to work from anywhere there’s a browser. Trends in today’s development environment heading towards more remote and freelance work, with more collaboration, and working with cloud based workloads that don’t require a powerful dev machine, and Visual Studio Online is built to handle that new way of working. You can learn more about Visual Studio Online over at Microsoft Docs, and try it out now in the browser, connected via Visual Studio Code, or with the Visual Studio Private Preview.

In addition, Microsoft took time to point out some recent enhancements for developers, including the Alpha of WinUI 3, the developer implications of Edge Chromium nearing launch, and improvements to WSL2 (the Windows Subsystem for Linux). You can read more about all of the latest developer news on Kevin Gallo’s blog post.