Microsoft has released new driver updates for its Surface Laptop 2 and Surface Go LTE this week (via Neowin). The new bits should improve Surface Pen reliability on both devices, and several driver updates for the Surface Laptop 2 should also improve system stability.

Here are all the details for the Surface Laptop 2 driver updates:

• Surface Pen Firmware Update – System devices – 3.0.10.1: Ensures reliability of Pen top button click on Surface Pen with no clip-on Windows 10 October 10 2018 Update, version 1809. Use the Surface Pen Checker Tool to verify that the Pen’s firmware was successfully updated.
• Surface Pen Integration Device – Human Interface Devices: 1.0.9.0 Enables firmware update to Surface Pen with no clip.
• Surface Integration Service Device: 4.18.139.0 Improves system stability.
• Surface ME – Firmware: 11.8.56.3522 Improves system stability.
• Surface System Aggregator: 145.106.139.0 Improves system stability.
• Surface Touch – Firmware: 145.106.139.0 Improves system stability.
• Surface UEFI – Firmware: 137.2439.769 Improves system stability.

If you own the Surface Go LTE, this variant is getting its first driver updates this month, which will also allow the installation of the Windows 10 October 2018 Update. You can find all details below:

• Surface Pen Firmware Update – System devices: 3.0.10.1 resolves intermittent Pen top button click failure on Surface Pen with no clip, post Windows 10 October 2018 Update. Use the Surface Pen Checker Tool to verify that the Pen’s firmware was successfully updated
• Surface Pen Integration Device – Human Interface Devices: 1.0.9.0 enables firmware update to Surface Pen with no clip.
• Generic IO & Memory Access – System: 1.5.4.0 improves compatibility issue and enables update to Windows 10 October 2018 Update.

Microsoft says that it’s not aware of any known issues with these latest driver updates, but as usual let us know in the comments if you encounter any problems after installing them on your devices.

Microsoft is now making it possible for Xbox Insiders to leave the program by closing their Xbox Insider account. While it was already possible to remove a console from the Xbox Insider program to stop getting preview builds, closing an Xbox Insider Account will delete all personal information and restore the console to the latest publicly available OS.

The new feature can be found in the Settings section of the Xbox Insider Hub app, and there’s also an option for exporting your personal data before closing your account. “Please note that the ‘Close account’ feature is permanent and deletes all Xbox Insider details, including flight enrollments, survey and poll responses, ratings, problem reports (including screenshots and game DVR clips), program level, and XP,” the Xbox team explained.

The Xbox Insider Program is mostly for people looking to get early access to new OS features, but you can actually join the program without installing any Xbox One preview builds. Indeed, the Xbox Insider Hub is also the place where you can install beta updates for Xbox apps and games you already own, or sign up for public betas for upcoming games. By closing your Xbox Insider account, be aware that you’ll also lose access to all of this.

Microsoft’s cross-platform Skype now lets you easily share files with OneDrive right from your conversations. This is thanks to a new Skype add-in that has been in testing with Skype Insiders since November.

OneDrive joins the growing list of Skype add-ins that already includes Microsoft To-Do, Spotify, and YouTube. You can access the add-in by clicking the “+” Add-ins button in a conversation, and after signing into your Microsoft account you’ll be able to share any file stored in OneDrive. This will send a OneDrive link to the recipient, which is more convenient than having to share large files (Skype currently has a 300 MB file size limit for shared files).

Curiously, this OneDrive add-in for Skype is available on all platforms except macOS and Linux, and Microsoft didn’t say if it will come to these platforms at a later date. For now, the workaround is to use the new Skype for Web preview, which currently only works on Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge on Windows 10.

Citus Data is an open source extension that will help bring scale to Postgre SQL databases and it seems Microsoft’s interest lay in the fact that customers will have no need to re-architect their existing applications because of its extension nature, versus other fork-like scaling solutions.

According to Sudhakar Sannakkayala, the general manager of Azure Data, Microsoft also saw benefit in Citus Data in particular because “customers can take advantage of all the innovations in community PostgreSQL with queries that are significantly faster compared to proprietary implementations of PostgreSQL.”

In the announcement of the Citus Data acquisition, Sannakkayala reaffirms the notion that Microsoft’s pivot to the cloud is expanding customer base beyond the walled-garden of Windows and that this approach speaks to the longevity of the company.

As open source relational databases grow on Azure, we continue to see accelerated adoption from customers across various industry verticals serving diverse, mission-critical application patterns ranging from complex analytical applications for digital marketing to machine learning based IoT applications. These applications demand low latency and high query processing throughput, and our investment in Citus Data is a powerful accelerant to deliver high performance and scalable distributed databases.

Aside from a potential future where Azure customers have access to high profile scaling solution that supports multi-tenant SaaS applications and accelerated real-time analytics, Microsoft seems to be betting on the rapid and diverse development of the open source community for its own future.

If you use the official Xbox One Media Remote to navigate your Xbox One and control your entertainment, a new feature coming in the 1904 system update will let you choose what happens when you press the dedicated OneGuide button. The latest Xbox One 1904 preview build, which is now available to download for Skip Ahead and Preview Alpha Xbox Insiders lets you assign your favorite app to this OneGuide button, and that includes popular entertainment apps like YouTube or Netflix.

For those unfamiliar, OneGuide is the built-in TV listings guide that brings together your favorite TV channels and entertainment apps on your Xbox One. OneGuide is one of the last remnants of Microsoft’s initial ambition to make its console an all-in-one entertainment system, but it hasn’t evolved much in recent years with the company shifting its focus on new gaming features.

The dedicated OneGuide button on the Xbox Media Remote is still really useful for those who use the feature a lot, but it looks like Microsoft has finally started thinking about everybody else. After installing this latest preview build, you can reprogram this OneGuide button on the Xbox Media Remote by going into Settings>Kinect & devices>Media remote.

This Media Remote programmable buttons feature is the second noteworthy addition we’ve seen in 1904 builds so far, following the the virtual mini keyboard that shipped to Insiders last week. The Xbox One 1904 system update is expected to ship in April, and it will be preceded by the 1902 system update which will bring under the hood changes but no new features.

Microsoft has just unveiled a very rare Xbox One X console that it’s giving away as part of a new Super Bowl-related competition.

The Xbox One X console is G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) themed with giant green letters on the top and on the side. Its controller also appears to be slightly customized as can be seen by the green triggers in the above image.

In addition to the custom console and controller, the solo winner of this new competition will also get an Xbox G.O.A.T ring that “features 10 carat premium gold (plated black) and weighs over 1.5 ounces, with 188 black diamonds and 46 green tsavorite stones,” a G.O.A.T merchandise pack, a football jersey autographed by Antonio Brown, and the Madden NFL 19 video game.

Unfortunately, this competition is only open to residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia but it can be entered without having to buy anything.

Here’s the two entry methods:

1. To enter by making a qualifying purchase, you must visit www.microsoft.com and make a qualifying purchase of a 3-month Xbox Live Gold membership (a “Qualifying Purchase”) during the Sweepstakes Period to earn one (1) entry into the Sweepstakes and one (1) Offer subject to terms and conditions and eligibility, as listed below. You must be logged into your existing Microsoft account information at the time of purchase to earn one (1) entry into the Sweepstakes. If you do not have an existing Microsoft account, you must create a new, free account.
2. To enter by e-mail, without making a purchase, you must draft an e-mail with the subject line “Xbox Madden NFL 19 G.O.A.T. Prize Pack Sweepstakes” and include in the body of the e-mail your first name, last name, state, date of birth, e-mail address, and daytime phone number and send the e-mail to [email protected]. E-mail entries must be received during the Sweepstakes Period to be eligible.

Full details and rules for the competition can be read here.

What do you think of this custom console and ring? Are you going to enter the competition? Let us know in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest for more Xbox gaming content.

The Xbox 360 video games, Command and Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars, Command and Conquer 3 Kane’s Wrath, Command and Conquer Red Alert 3, and Command and Conquer Red Alert 3 Commander’s Challenge are all now backwards compatible with the newer Xbox One consoles.

Each game can now be purchased and downloaded digitally on the Xbox One and the original Xbox 360 disks are now also supported.

Here’s the official descriptions for each game.

Command and Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars

Control massive armies and wage war as one of as one of three rival factions in Command and Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars. Embark on an adrenaline-fueled single-player campaign that features explosive 3D special effects, an unparalleled Hollywood cast, and over 90 minutes of live-action video. Then, head onto Xbox Live for devastating multiplayer battles with five exclusive modes and Xbox Live Vision support. You alone can decide the fate of the planet in the epic war over Tiberium. Welcome back, Commander.

Command and Conquer 3 Kane’s Wrath

Kane Lives! Download this map pack and wreck havoc on 4 new maps that can be used in both Skirmish or against other commanders in Xbox LIVE. Choose your army and conquer the world in Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath, the follow up to 2007’s best selling real-time strategy game, C&C 3 Tiberium Wars. This standalone game features the new CommandStick interface, making RTS easier to pick up and play than ever before. Kane’s Wrath includes all the units, structures, and superpowers from Tiberium Wars, giving you over 100 units and structures to command and 9 unique armies, each with its own play style!

Command and Conquer Red Alert 3

After years of conflict, the Allies are finally on the brink of victory. Cowering behind the walls of the Kremlin, the Soviets decide to turn to one last act of desperation – the use of an experimental time travel device. The mission: to go back in time to eliminate Albert Einstein before he creates the technologies that will lead the Allies to ultimate victory. After a successful mission, the Soviets return to the present, discovering the Allied position has indeed been weakened. But before they can truly celebrate, they find out their actions have spawned a new threat and global superpower, the mysterious, technologically advanced Empire of the Rising Sun. Welcome to World War III.

Command and Conquer Red Alert 3 Commander’s Challenge

Fight for world domination in the all-new Red Alert 3 Commander’s Challenge! Do you have what it takes to withstand the brutal onslaught and relentless taunting of the world’s toughest commanders, including Ric Flair as Commander Hill? Find out as you attempt to conquer the world in 50 challenges featuring explosive new units such as the Giga Fortress, Desolator, and Cryo Legionnaire!

January has seen a lot of classic Xbox 360 video games come to the Xbox One. FUEL racing was the first to jump to the Xbox One at the beginning of the month and it was soon joined by Rayman Raving Rabbids and Battlestations Pacific. Ace Combat 6 also gained Xbox One backwards compatibility last week.

Do you play any Xbox 360 backwards compatibility games on your Xbox One? Are you happy to see these Command and Conquer titles added? Let us know which ones in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest for more Xbox gaming content.

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Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars

Developer:
Electronic Arts

Price:
$14.99

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Command and Conquer 3 Kane’s Wrath Map Pack

Developer:
Electronic Arts

Price:
$4.99

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Command & Conquer™ Red Alert™ 3

Developer:
Electronic Arts

Price:
$14.99

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Command & Conquer Red Alert 3: Commander’s Challenge

Developer:
Electronic Arts

Price:
$9.99

Ok well this has been fun… Microsoft released Windows 10 Insider build 18323 today, the first reports of it coming almost an hour ago (sorry I was stuck on the phone talking health insurance provider, go figure), but it’s taken that long to get the blog post announcing the build and the changes coming along with it, but the post is now up.

This build is not without its problems, at least in getting it out and getting the word out, and the blog post starts out with a word of caution:

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18323 (19H1) to Windows Insiders in the Fast ring. Please note that due to a small outage in our build publishing system, this build will be rolling out to Windows Insiders over the next few hours so it may not be immediately available at the time of publish of this blog post.

As far as what’s new with 18323, as expected the new features list is becoming shorter as 19H1 gets closer to release. However this build does include improvements to RAW image format support:

Improved RAW image format support

Do you like taking pictures in Raw image formats and wish that the Raw files from your camera were natively supported by Windows?

Good news! Targeting 19H1, we’ve been working hard to release a new store-delivered Raw codec package that dramatically improves native raw file format support in Windows.

By downloading the new Raw Image Extension (Beta) package from the store, you can now view image thumbnails, previews, and camera metadata of previously unsupported raw files right in File Explorer. You can also view your raw images – at full resolution – in apps such as Photos or any other Windows app that uses Windows Imaging Component framework to decode raw images.

How to test

Please note – to install the package, 19H1 Build 18323 or later is required. Open the following link in Edge to install the current beta package: https://www.microsoft.com/store/apps/9NCTDW2W1BH8. We have also created a 19H1 Bug Bash quest for directions. If you are running Build 18323 or later, click on this link to open the quest in Feedback Hub.
Known issues

Exposing camera properties stored as EXIF/XMP metadata is not currently working for some raw image formats.
File Explorer hangs when the view state is changed to “Details Pane” and a raw file that activates the new raw codec package is selected.
Opening some raw images in Photos app using the new store-delivered raw codec pack gets stuck at low resolution thumbnail image.

How to provide feedback

We would love to get your feedback. Please send your feedback through Feedback Hub under “Devices and Drivers > Video Playback” category.

This new build also gets more Light Theme love:

Improving Light Theme

We introduced the new Light Theme in Windows 10 with Build 18282 and today’s build has some improvements to Light Theme worth taking note of based on your feedback:

• fixed an issue where the text in the battery flyout might become unreadable in light theme due to it being white.
• We fixed an issue where the scrollbar in the network flyout wasn’t visible in light theme.
• We fixed an issue where the autoplay icon in the systray wasn’t visible in light theme.
• We fixed an issue where impacting the network and volume icons in the notification area where after switching to light theme they wouldn’t update from white to black until explorer restarted.
• We fixed a similar issue where not all supported app icons in the taskbar would switch colors on the taskbar when switching between light and dark theme (particularly on the secondary monitor).
• We’ve made some adjustments to address issues where when using light theme white icons in notifications weren’t readable.
• We’re updating the Settings icon to now be dark grey in the taskbar when light theme is enabled rather than black.

Again, as is usual as we get close to release, the inbox apps, the ones that will ship with the release of 19H1, have been locked down, and you may notice that they’re missing some features from recent builds:

REMINDER: Getting the latest Windows 10 app updates

We have locked down the inbox apps in 19H1. These simplified versions of some of the inbox apps are what will ship with 19H1 when it is released. As a result, Insiders may have noticed that some features have disappeared from these apps. This was probably most noticeable with the Photos app. Insiders can get these features back by going into the settings of an inbox app like Photos and clicking the “Join preview” button.

As usual, too, there’s a long list of changes, fixes, and known issues:

General changes, improvements, and fixes for PC

• REMINDER: The new tamper protection setting in the Windows Security app protects your device by helping to prevent bad actors from tampering with the most important security settings. You may see a new recommendation in the Windows Security app suggesting you turn this setting on.
• We fixed an issue causing Update Orchestrator Service to stop working periodically. As a result of this issue, you might have seen an error on Windows Update Settings saying that the update failed to restart. This issue also resulted in restart using Update and Restart to sometimes just restart you back into the base OS.
• Clicking your account in Cortana Permissions doesn’t bringing up the UI to sign out from Cortana (if you were already signed in) for some users in this build.
• We fixed an issue resulting in night light not working recently.
• We fixed an issue where the quick actions section of Action Center would be missing sometimes recently.
• We fixed an issue where closing an open Excel window from the taskbar might cause Excel to go non-responsive.
• We fixed an issue an issue where the WIN + Ctrl + <number> hotkey wasn’t working.
• When using your accent color on the taskbar has been enabled, the taskbar and start jump lists will now also be accent-themed.
• For the time being we’re returning the Volume Mixer link in the volume button context menu to its October 2018 behavior while we look at improving the experience based on feedback.
• We fixed an issue where themes and Microsoft Edge extensions downloaded from Microsoft Store wouldn’t appear in their respective locations after the download finished.
• We fixed an issue impacting Action Center reliability in recent builds.
• We fixed an issue where you might see multiple Focus Assist notifications in the Action Center at a particular time.
• We’re adding Nearby Sharing to the list of default Focus Assist exceptions.
• We fixed a recent issue where if you used the screen snip quick action in the Action Center then the resulting screenshot would have the Action Center in it.
• We fixed a recent issue that could result in not being able to launch UWP apps from the Start menu sometimes.
• We fixed a recent regression resulting in File Explorer sometimes hanging when interacting with MP4s and folders that had MP4s in them.
• We fixed an issue where Cortana would close immediately if opened from the Start screen when using tablet mode.
• We fixed an issue impacting Snipping Tool reliability.
• We fixed an issue resulting in Ctrl + P not activating the Print command in Snip & Sketch in recent flights.
• We fixed an issue resulting in Snip & Sketch potentially crashing when closing many Snip & Sketch windows in a row.
• We fixed an issue where rebooting would set Nearby Sharing back to an off state if it had been turned on.
• We fixed an issue where the lock screen preview in Lock Screen Settings wasn’t showing in recent builds.
• We fixed an issue where the scrollbar in Settings was overlapping the text fields when manually configuring your IP address.
• We fixed a rare issue that could result in the screen locking up when using the Surface Dial.
• We fixed an issue where the tooltips in the Emoji Panel were truncated on the bottom.
• We fixed an issue where the Windows feature update might fail but would still be listed as a successful update in Windows Update history page.
• We fixed an issue where you might see a Windows Update icon in the notification area saying there was an update when no update was available.
• We fixed an issue where you couldn’t type on the touch keyboard when “Turn on Activate a window by hovering over it with the mouse” since focus would move away from the text field and set to the keyboard itself.
• We fixed an issue on certain devices that could sometimes result in the screen staying black on boot until CTRL + Alt + Del was pressed.
• We fixed an issue resulting in certain devices experience increased battery drain on the last few flights when in Disconnected Standby Mode.
• We fixed an issue for devices with multiple monitors resulting in Task View (WIN + Tab) sometimes showing UWP app thumbnails on the primary monitor rather than the monitor where the app was open.
• We fixed an issue where some key labels were cut off in Armenian full touch keyboard layout.
• We fixed an issue when using the full touch keyboard layout in Korean where pressing the FN key unexpectedly highlighted the IME ON/OFF key. We also fixed an issue for this language where tapping the tab key wouldn’t insert a tab.
• Thanks everyone who shared feedback about the new Japanese Microsoft IME we’ve been working on. With today’s build the IME and settings pages are returning to the ones that we shipped with the October 2018 Update, while we take your feedback into consideration.
• We fixed an issue where Narrator sometimes did not say anything when reopening Action Center after it was dismissed using the Esc key.
• We fixed an issue where Narrator did not speak the volume level value when using the hardware volume button to change the volume setting.
• We fixed an issue where Narrator command read from current location did not work when on a heading in Wikipedia.
• We fixed an issue where Narrator announced read-only at the end for links.
• We fixed an issue where Narrator continuous reading command read the last word of a sentence twice on a web page in Microsoft Edge.
• We fixed an issue impacting a small number of users enrolled in Microsoft Intune where they might not receive policies.
• We fixed an issue where signing out from inside Windows Sandbox resulted in a blank white window.
• We fixed an issue resulting in running c:\windows\syswow64\regedit.exe not launching regedit in recent builds.
• Settings header rollout update: This is now available across most regions for Insiders in Fast using Home edition and Pro editions of Windows that are not domain joined.
• Small app update: Thanks everyone who reached out about the grid alignment issue in the Calculator – this has been fixed with the 1812 version of the app.

Known issues

• While with Build 18323 we fixed the recent spike in Update Orchestrator Service crashes, if you’re on a base OS that’s impacted by the crash, you will still see the symptoms described above until you’re on 18323.
• The Windows Security app may show an unknown status for the Virus & threat protection area, or not refresh properly. This may occur after upgrade, restart, or settings changes.
• Launching games that use anti-cheat software may trigger a bugcheck (GSOD).
• Creative X-Fi sound cards are not functioning properly. We are partnering with Creative to resolve this issue.
• While night light functionality is back up and running, you may still find issues with other blue light reduction software not working.
• When performing Reset this PC and selecting Keep my files on a device that has Reserved Storage enabled the user will need to initiate an extra reboot to ensure Reserved Storage is working again properly.
• Some Realtek SD card readers are not functioning properly. We are investigating the issue.
• USB devices, including mice and keyboards, may no longer work after updating. Possible workarounds are to change which USB port it is plugged into or connect the device through a USB hub.
• You may consistently see black screens when using Remote Desktop, DisplayLink, or Miracast if you are on an AMD or Nvidia driver. We’re working on a fix, but in the meantime, you can work around this issue by enabling the following registry key and rebooting: reg add HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Dwm /v EnableFrontBufferRenderChecks /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f.
• The value in Narrator Settings “Change the level of detail Narrator provides about text and control” might be empty. To work around this issue, use the Narrator command Narrator key + v to change the verbosity level, then close and reopen Settings app again.
• After upgrade, there might be two Narrator voices talking at the same time. Reboot the machine once, this issue will go away.
• Windows Sandbox may launch to a black screen for some users.
• The Insider Program Settings pages currently have a bug preventing Narrator and Screen Reader programs from properly reading the page. A fix will be available in an upcoming build.
• Taskbar icons may stop loading and appear blank.
• Desktop Window Manager will crash if multiple Office and/or video playback applications are running on the same screen on devices that have Multiplane Overlay Support.

The first episode of Life is Strange 2 was released in the Xbox Game Pass library of free games earlier this month, and today the release dates for future episodes have been revealed. According to the official Xbox Twitter account, future episodes of the series are expected to be available free for Game Pass subscribers 90 days after their official releases on the Microsoft Store.

CLARIFICATION: We got a little excited… Future Life is Strange 2 episodes will be available on Xbox Game Pass 90 days following their original release.

— Xbox (@Xbox) January 23, 2019

That’s definitely good news because the second episode is launching today, so anyone who has been eager to see what it has in store can do so later today. Additionally, with 90 days until the game’s free availability in the Game Pass library, that puts its release date to those members on April 24.

Hide your powers. Run from danger. Don’t get caught. Should be easy, right?
Find out in Episode 2 of #LifeisStrange2, launching January 24: https://t.co/mIoyqQdoyE pic.twitter.com/jx9zoMKKX3

— Xbox (@Xbox) January 23, 2019

If you want to go ahead and buy all of the episodes now, anyone with a Game Pass subscription can save 20% by bunding all of them together. Here’s the game’s description for those interested:

Two brothers Sean and Daniel Diaz, are forced to run away from home after a tragic incident in Seattle. In fear of the police, Sean & Daniel head to Mexico while attempting to conceal a sudden & mysterious supernatural power.

If you’re not sure you want to invest the money, the first episode is already free for subscribers, so you’ll have a chance to see for yourself if its worth the money now or if its better to wait until its free availability. In the meantime, feel free to share your thoughts down below.

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Life is Strange 2 – Complete Season

Developer:
Square Enix

Price:
$31.95

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Saints Row The Third are now both playable on Xbox One for free as part of Xbox Game Pass.

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is an absolutely massive game set within the same Middle-earth of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit fame. It won a number of awards after its initial release on Xbox One back in late-2014 and was generally praised for its visuals and gameplay.

Saints Row The Third is a light-hearted, yet violent and provocative, open-world game that first came out on the Xbox 360 in 2011. Like Shadow of Mordor, it was also well-received by most players and critics with many mentioning its wacky adult-themed sandbox nature as being its highlight.

Xbox Game Pass is a monthly subscription service that gives Xbox One owners access to around 100 full video games. Last week, We Happy Few and The LEGO Movie Video Game were also added to the library.

Are you an Xbox Game Pass subscriber? Let us know which game you’ll be playing first in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest for more Xbox gaming content.

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Middle-earth™: Shadow of Mordor™ – Game of the Year Edition

Developer:
Warner Bros. Games

Price:
$4.99

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Saints Row®: The Third™

Developer:
Koch Media

Price:
$14.99

After launching on the official iOS and Android Mixer apps just over a week ago, Embers are finally live on Xbox One consoles and the web version of the Mixer streaming service.

Embers are a new kind of digital currency that users on Mixer need to buy with real-world money. After purchasing Embers, users can use them to buy animated emotes or colorful text messages to use in chat rooms while watching streamers on the Mixer platform. Streamers earn money when Embers are used within their channel’s chat room.

https://twitter.com/WatchMixer/status/1087824494419501062

Mixer streamers can also earn money on the platform through paid subscriptions (similar to Twitch) and by reaching Spark milestones. Sparks are another form of currency on Mixer but, unlike Embers, can be earned by streaming or watching someone else stream. Sparks are typically used to activate static emotes or gifs in chat rooms.

Do you use Mixer and have you tried using Embers yet? Share you impressions on them with the community in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest for more gaming content.

The Star Wars Prequel villain, Count Dooku, is now live and playable in Star Wars Battlefront II on Xbox One, PC, and PlayStation 4.

The Count Dooku character, or Darth Tyranus as he’s also known, is completely free for all owners of the video game though must be unlocked with Credits, the in-game currency that can be earned by playing. He only costs 35,000 Credits, though, which can easily be earned within a week of casual gameplay.

Count Dooku’s default appearance is his Sith Lord skin, as seen in the above image (screenshot credit goes to Cinematic Captures). His secondary skin, Dark Ritual, has been delayed and is expected to arrive via a hotfix sometime over the coming days.

A special video showcasing Count Dooku has been released by EA. In it, viewers can see all of Dooku’s special moves and attacks in addition to being given a small audio preview of Anakin Skywalker, the next character coming to the game, towards the end. You can watch the video right here.

In addition to Count Dooku, the latest Star Wars Battlefront II update also added the planet Geonosis to the Heroes Versus Villains, Blast, and Custom Arcade game modes. The Coruscant Guard appearances, which were expected to arrive with this week’s update, have been pushed back to February to coincide with a small revamp of the skin system.

The next free update, which is planned for late-February, will add Anakin Skywalker, a variety of new character appearances, and a whole new mode which is said to be the bigger than any existing experience within Star Wars Battlefront II.

Very little has been announced concerning post-February plans for the game, however datamining has revealed references to Padme and Ahsoka which could mean that these two characters may be coming to the game sometime in 2019.

Are you playing Star Wars Battlefront II on your Xbox One console? Let us know what you think of Count Dooku in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest for more Xbox gaming content.

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STAR WARS™ Battlefront™ II

Developer:
Electronic Arts

Price:
Free

With Azure Cognitive Services, Microsoft is using AI and the power of the cloud to allow apps to process natural language, identify objets, and even persons. We’ve already seen the power of these technologies in apps like Bing Visual Search and Seeing AI, an iPhone app that can help the visually impaired to recognize text, people, and objects around them

DJI, the world’s biggest drone manufacturer has now teamed up with Microsoft to create drones that can recognize objects, including different types of fruits (via Tech in Asia). Both companies recently organized the AI x Drones Joint University Competition, where students had to build AI models so that DJI drones would be able to recognize fruits that had been scattered in a specific area.

In the image below, you can see how an AI model built by students was able to label different fruits, and add a number next to each of them to indicate if the results could be really trusted or not.

According to Winnie Chu, Business Group Lead, Cloud and Enterprise at Microsoft Hong Kong, the intelligent edge (the ability to run AI closer to the physical word) really helps to make AI models more effective on these drones. “Once a drone detects something, it can send the message or the results back to the computer, and it will make the whole performance and user experience much better,” said Chu.

If it doesn’t seem very useful to have drones that can recognize fruits, there could be many more interesting use cases for this technology, such as checking stocks in massive warehouses or explore other areas inaccessible to frontline workers. “We see drones as empowering workers and becoming a new tool in the toolbox,” explained Kevin On, Global Marketing and Communications director of DJI.

Feature image credit: Abacus.

YouTube TV is now available to 98% of people in the United States (via The Verge), and the majority of those users will be able to enjoy at least three of the big four local broadcast giants (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC) depending on their area. Google promises the remaining area will get access soon, the wait primarily being due to negotiations with local broadcast stations, since local stations are a big part of the service.

YouTube TV has become my primary means of entertainment on the Xbox One, especially given I have access to all four of the local options. It’s probably the best option out there and the only one that gives up to six family members their own unlimited DVR storage (although recordings expire after 9 months) for just $40 a month. The only downside is the lack of Viacom and Discovery networks, so that means no Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, BET, or Discovery channels.

That said, there are other options out there for those who do need the extra channels or features. Sling TV allows users to build their own plan, and Hulu brings their entire on-demand library to subscribers of their live TV service. Then there’s also cable though OneGuide for those who need a lot of channels. However neither of those services offer the incredibly useful unlimited DVR storage that YouTube TV offers.

If you’re interested, you can download the app on the Microsoft Store for your Xbox One, and if you’re on Windows 10 its available on the Chrome and Firefox web browsers. Unfortunately that leaves out S Mode users, at least until Edge becomes powered by Chromium. Additionally, anyone on iOS and Android can download the app on their respective app stores to enjoy live TV, DVR, and on-demand content from anywhere they wish.

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YouTube TV

Developer:
Google LLC

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‎YouTube TV

Developer:
Google

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Free

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YouTube TV: Live TV & more

Developer:
Google LLC

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Free

Microsoft has just announced the release of the preview build 18317 for the Windows Server vNext Semi-Annual channel release, as well as Windows Admin Center Preview 1812. The new Windows Server build brings the ability to support multiple code integrity policies through three different scenarios, in addition to a couple of bug fixes.

Windows Admin Center, the new graphical management tool for Windows Server is also getting some love in this 1812 release. New features include a new dark theme UI, the addition of Power configuration tab on the server settings page, and the ability to configure Windows Admin Center using PowerShell.

This new Windows Server build is now available to download for Insiders on the Windows Server Insider Preview download page. Microsoft noted in the release notes that in-place upgrade will fail for this build, so you’ll have no choice but doing a clean install.

Microsoft is using the Bett education conference in London to announce some interesting hardware news this morning. In addition to the seven new Windows 10 PCs for education, the company also unveiled the Microsoft Classroom Pen, which is designed for K-8 students and optimized for Surface Go tablets.

The Microsoft Classroom Pen has a design similarity with the company’s Surface Pen, but it’s just over 4 inches long with two buttons on the side. According to Microsoft, the new Classroom Pen is “designed for students who put their learning tools through heavy wear and tear and features a durable, hardened pen tip and a replacement tip for each pen included in the box. Plus, a built-in slot at the end makes for easy tethering to students’ device cases, so the pen doesn’t get lost.”

The Microsoft Classroom Pen will be offered exclusively to EDU institutions in all 36 Surface Go markets starting in February. It will only be sold in packs of 20 for a cost of $799.80, which represents approximately $39.99 per pen. The company plans to share more details about the new pen on Friday.

It appears NeatherRealm Studios, the company that is developing the upcoming Mortal Kombat XI fighting game, is interested in enabling cross-platform multiplayer in their new game, due for release this Spring. This could enable users on various platforms such as Xbox One, PC and Mac to not just play with each other, but also interact with cross-platform profiles, friends, voice communication, and match-making, cloud saves and even achievements could work between the different platforms

All of this could be possible in part due to Epic Games’ release of their API tools, as spotted by the writers at Wccftech. The gaming company that develops the heavily popularized and highly cross-compatible Fortnite game will make new cross-platform features free for all developers, and the APIs will be released over a period of several months for any developer wishing to incorporate them into their own titles.

• Cross-Platform Login, Friends, Presence, Profile, and Entitlements (coming Q2-Q3 2019 to PC, other platforms throughout 2019): Provides the core functionality for persistently recognizing players across multiple sessions and devices; identifying friends; and managing free and paid item entitlements. This will support all 7 major platforms (PC, Mac, iOS, Android, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch) to the full extent each platform allows per-title.
• PC/Mac Overlay API (coming Q3 2019): Provides a user interface for login, friends, and other features in a game-agnostic, engine-agnostic way.
• Cross-Platform Voice Comms (coming Q3 2019 to all platforms): Epic is building a new in-game voice communications service supporting all platforms, all stores, and all engines, which will be available for free. (For developers needing an immediately-available voice solution, check out Discord, Vivox, TeamSpeak, Ventrilo, and Mumble.)
• Cross-Platform Parties and Matchmaking (coming Q3-4 2019 to all platforms)
• Cross-Platform Data Storage, Cloud-Saved Games (coming Q2 2019)
• Cross-Platform Achievements and Trophies (coming Q3 2019)

Cross-platform multiplayer is unlikely to be available in the game’s initial release in April 23, and the developers haven’t addresses much, including whether the game could work between PS4 and other platforms. This is likely due to Sony’s strict policies against cross-play, however lately it seems to be willing to soften its stance on the issue.

If you’re interested, the game is available for pre-order right now on the Microsoft Store, and will be an Xbox One X Enhanced title and supports HDR10 for anyone who is sporting a supported TV and Xbox One S or X system.

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Mortal Kombat 11

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Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

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Microsoft Launcher has begun rolling out its second major update since the app’s v5 launch on the Google Play Store, bringing the beta to version 5.2 to those who wish to preview the update ahead of its official release. The app’s development head Gordon Lin took to the app’s Google+ community to give users the full changelog of the update, which includes UI enhancements to give them app improved design consistency and ease of use especially on larger-screened devices.

These changes include an option to disable full screened folders as seen in the image above, and improvements to the font size so that it now reflects the phone’s system settings. Additionally, the launcher’s Cortana integration will now only be able to access calls and messages when set as the phone’s default assistant due to a policy change on the Play Store, which could disappoint users of the dedicated Cortana app. Here’s the full list of changes:

– Non-full screen folders for easier one-handed use and large-screen devices
– Microsoft Rewards daily deal card now allows you to earn Rewards points for using Microsoft Launcher and completing other tasks!
– Long-press shortcuts now work on home screen icons even when the home screen is locked.
– Microsoft Launcher no longer asks for Calls/SMS permissions by default per Google Play Store policies.
– Customers can now send a CPU profile through “Contact Us” in Settings in case of device performance issues
– Adaptive font- Launcher font size will now respect the system font size

If you’re interesting in previewing the update, Lin points out that anyone can do this simply by heading to the app’s beta testing page on Google Play, and signing up to ‘Become a tester.” Signing up give users early access to the launcher’s updates, bringing new features to them ahead of everyone else.

To help promote the launch of the new Vikendi map in the PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) video game today, a new special Vikendi Edition of the popular game has just gone live on Xbox One.

This new PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds: Vikendi Edition comes with the base PUBG game, access to the public test server, 2,300 G-Coins, the Survivor Pass: Vikendi, and a Military Uniform Set which can be worn by both male and female characters.

To complement the new Vikendi Edition of the main game, a Vikendi Pack has also been made available for those that want the new digital content but don’t wish to re-buy the full game. The Vikendi Pack comes with the bonus 2,300 G-Coins, the Survivor Pass: Vikendi, and the Military Uniform Set.

The Military Uniform Set is exclusive to both of these bundles and won’t be available anywhere else. Each bundle will also be extremely limited and will be removed from the Xbox storefront on March 28th.

Are you tempted to buy either of these PUBG Vikendi bundles? Let us know which ones in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest for more PUBG content.

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PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS: Vikendi Edition

Developer:
Microsoft

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PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS: Vikendi Pack

Developer:
Microsoft

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Free

At its annual Media & Analyst Days event in India, Microsoft India shared details about its progress on its vision to democratize AI in the country to fuel economic and social growth.

“A tectonic shift is happening in AI. Nearly 85% of enterprises globally will use AI in some form or the other by 2020, and Indian firms are now fast catching up,” Anant Maheshwari, President, Microsoft India, said in his opening keynote.

• Analytics: $200 billion global market by 2020
• Data: 44 zettabytes annually by 2020
• Cloud: Cloud shift will affect more than $1 trillion in IT spending by 2020

He pointed out that while 8% of GDP components in India are impacted by digital technologies today, this number is expected to go up to 60% by 2021.

At the event, Microsoft shared that over 700 business and government organizations have adopted its AI solutions to drive digital transformation with 60% of these customers being large manufacturing and financial services enterprises.

Amongst the top 500 organizations on Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), 97% of the top banks, 75% of the top retailers, 81% of the top auto firms, 75% of the top pharma firms, and 67% of the top healthcare firms are Microsoft’s customers in India. In addition, Microsoft is working with new-age organizations that are leapfrogging and disrupting industries.

Out of the 9,500 Microsoft Partners in India, there 2,995 Cloud partners with 88 own IP-ready partners helping Indian organizations to inlock the full potential of AI, Cloud, and data.

Microsoft recently introduced the Intelligent Cloud Hub program in India with an aim to help build AI and cloud computing skills required for future jobs. The company aims to equip research and higher education institutions with AI infrastructure as well as build curriculum and faculty capability to skill students in AI and cloud technologies.

According to a LinkedIn survey, US, China, and India have the highest penetration of AI skills among the workforce, in that order.

Last year, Microsoft India announced an agreement with NITI Aayog to leverage the benefits of AI for the growth of the nation. The NITI Aayog, also National Institution for Transforming India, is a policy think tank of the Government of India.

As part of the agreement, Microsoft India will support NITI Aayog by combining the cloud, AI, research and its vertical expertise for new initiatives and solutions across several core areas to advance agriculture, healthcare, natural language computing, and a sustainable environment Microsoft will also accelerate the use of AI for the development and adoption of local language computing.

We believe AI will enable Indian businesses and more for India’s progress, especially in education, skilling, healthcare and agriculture. Microsoft also believes that it is imperative to build higher awareness and capabilities on security, privacy, trust and accountability. The power of AI is just beginning to be realized and can be a game-changer for India.

– Anant Maheshwari, President, Microsoft India

In 2016, Microsoft created the global Artificial Intelligence and Research (AI & R) group with the goal to bring AI to every person, organization, and company.

The company now offers a broad framework for integrating AI with Azure, Azure Stack, Azure IoT Edge, and Azure Sphere. With 54 Azure regions globally, Microsoft has more cloud regions than both Amazon (AWS) and Google (Google Cloud) combined.

The official Telegram app for Windows 10 devices updated today with some improvements for groups. With this update, group admins can now place limits on the type of content members post, access to the group settings has been significantly streamlined, and all groups can now have up to 200,000 members (up from the previous 100,000 limit).

Other changes made with this update include an option to select emoji sets in chat settings, support for automatic media downloads, and new input and output settings.

Here’s the full release notes:

• Global permissions for groups. Restrict all members in any group from posting certain types of content.
• Unified group settings. Make groups public, set admins with granular permissions and toggle persistent history in just a few clicks in any group.
• Choose the emoji set you would like to use in Chat Settings.
• Choose input and output devices for Telegram Calls in Settings > Advanced > Call Settings.
• Support for automatically downloading files and music.

Telegram is a popular chat service that has official apps on all major platforms including Windows phone. Its recent updates on Windows 10 added features such as anonymous polls and support for custom-made languages.

Are you a Telegram user? Let us know why or why not in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest for more tech content.

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Telegram Desktop

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Telegram Messenger LLP

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The sequel to the hit platformer Guacamelee!, Guacamelee! 2, is now live on Xbox One and Windows 10 devices. The game is very much in the same vein as the original with a bright Mexican-influenced design aesthetic, eccentric characters, Metroidvania-style platforming challenges, and support for local multiplayer.

Here’s the official Guacamelee! 2 game description:

Brawling has never been more beautiful! The long-awaited sequel to the smash hit action-platformer is here: Guacamelee! 2 brings luchador Juan Aguacate out of retirement for a stunning new Metroidvania-style adventure, where he must face his greatest challenge yet – one that threatens to tear apart the very fabric of the Mexiverse!

Explore a huge, hand-crafted world inspired by Mexican culture and folklore, filled with sassy new villains and weirdos (and a few old friends!). Learn a deep repertoire of bone-crunching wrestling moves to fend off the skeletal hordes and overcome skillful platforming challenges… and who said anything about a Chicken Illuminati? Certainly not us!

Guacamelee! 2 supports Microsoft’s Xbox Play Anywhere initiative which means that buying it on Xbox One will unlock it for free on Windows 10 and vice versa. Game saves will also transfer between devices using the same Microsoft/Xbox account and players will be able to unlock Xbox Achievements wherever they choose to play. The game will also play in 4K Ultra HD on the Xbox One X console.

Are you a fan of the original Guacamelee! video game and have you played Guacamelee! 2 yet? Let us know in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest for more Xbox gaming content.

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Guacamelee! 2

Developer:
Drinkbox Studios

Price:
$19.99