While some Windows enthusiasts wait for the tidal wave of PWAs to come flowing in to the Windows Store from like-minded developers, there’s still a lot of native application development going for the platform.

The Windows 10 Facebook app just received a new update bringing the app to version 171.1861.39959.0.

While it’s not as feature heavy as some may want to bring the experience up to par with other platforms, today’s update does offer some UI parity.

Today’s changelog includes the following highlighted tweaks:

• Renewed search bar (no more borders)
• New notification icon (now bell-shaped)
• All users can now send reactions to comments in the home (just hold on the comment to bring up the reactions)
• The stickers section has been translated into all languages
• It is now possible to add a biography from your profile
• The profile icon in comments and groups is now spherical
• Renewed the profiles page of their friends
• Corrections and minor improvements

It should be noted that the update was first spotted by the Microsoft-centric Italian Aggiornamentilumia.it., and that the update may or may not have been rolled out in completion yet. Check the Microsoft Store beforehand to confirm.

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Facebook

Developer:
Meta

Price:
Free

Back in May, Microsoft took the wraps off the Xbox Adaptive Controller, a new accessory to make gaming more inclusive for those with disabilities. We’ve since seen the company highlight the accessible packaging for the controller, and today, it has been announced that the Xbox Adaptive Controller is officially available for purchase.

You can find the Xbox Adaptive Controller for $99.99 at both the Microsoft Store and GameStop Online. The controller feature 19 3.5 mm jacks for plugging external switches, buttons, mounts, and joysticks. The most prominent feature, though, is its two giant programmable buttons, and symbols along the top side to help gamers with disabilities find the right ports.

Other features on the controller include USB ports on the right and left sides for thumbsticks, and USB C and DC power ports. It is those features and design which makes the controller special, as explained by Gabi Michel, Xbox Adaptive Controller Program Manager.

“The Xbox Adaptive Controller is a product that was ideated and pioneered with inclusivity at its heart. We iterated on and refined it through close partnership with gamers with limited mobility and fan feedback, as well as guidance and creativity from accessibility experts, advocates and partners…”

You can learn more about the peripherals and other hardware available for the Xbox Adaptive Controller by visiting this link here. You also can check that same link for more general information about the new controller and the story behind its creation.

Sony’s refusal to enable crossplay with other platforms on games like Fortnite and Minecraft is continuing to receive some heavy criticism from video games industry execs. This time, it’s Mike Ybarra, Corporate Vice President of Xbox Program Management at Microsoft, who just blamed Sony today for not “listening to gamers.”

Still isn’t listening to gamers. All games should be cross play and progression with the right input flexibility and gamer options. —-> Sony boss dismisses Fortnite cross-play controversy – The Verge https://t.co/NDJgET0M8t

— Mike Ybarra (@Qwik) September 3, 2018

In case you missed it, Ybarra was referring to recent interview of Sony’s CEO Kenichiro Yoshida with the Press Association, where the exec explained the company’s stance on crossplay:

On cross-platform, our way of thinking is always that PlayStation is the best place to play. Fortnite, I believe, partnered with PlayStation 4 is the best experience for users, that’s our belief. But actually, we already opened some games as cross-platform with PC and some others, so we decide based on what is the best user experience. That is our way of thinking for cross-platform.”

With the Playstation 4 remaining the leading 8th gen gaming console by a wide margin, Sony has no reason not to protect its walled garden. Still, like Ybarra said, the push for crossplay multiplayer across platforms is definitely happening. Back in July, EA CEO Andrew Wilson said that the company was thinking about enabling crossplay for its own games, which include the popular FIFA and Madden series. More recently, Pete Hines, Bethesda’s senior vice president of global marketing and communications explicitely said that the publisher wouldn’t allow Sony to block crossplay on The Elder Scrolls: Legend, Bethesda’s upcoming collectible card game.

So far, it seems that Sony isn’t really suffering from its gamer-hostile policy, and to be fair the company does support crossplay with PC and mobile devices on Fortnite (just not with gamers on Xbox One and Nintendo Switch). If the voices of video games industry exec isn’t enough to make the company change its mind about crossplay, it will ultimately be up to gamers to vote with their wallets and support the most gamer-friendly platforms out there.

After Microsoft shipped a major update for its Sticky Notes app last week, it seems that this UWP app may well become a very important app for the company. Indeed, the new cloud syncing feature introduced in Sticky Notes 3.0 means that notes not only sync across Windows 10 PCs, but they now also sync with Microsoft’s Outlook desktop app.

The synergy with Outlook on the desktop was discovered by OneWindows.es (via MSPoweruser), and this pretty much makes Sticky Notes a modern, task-focused app for managing Outlook notes. There is definitely some similarity with Microsoft To-Do, which has also recently become a modern client for managing Outlook Tasks.

For those unfamiliar, the Outlook desktop app has dedicated sections for Notes and Tasks (Tasks are basically notes with optional reminders), and those can sync to the cloud if you use an Outlook.com or Office 365 account. For most users though, using Outlook on the desktop to take notes is probably overkill, and Microsoft has already has more lightweight and elegant solutions including OneNote or even the legacy Notepad app.

The truth is, some consumers love the versatility of all-in-one apps like Outlook on the desktop, while others prefer lightweigtht and task-focused apps like the ones they use on their smartphone or tablet. And compared to OneNote, Sticky Notes does have some real advantages, including the fact that you can stick notes on your desktop. It’s also worth noting that OneNote for Windows 10 dropped support for local notebooks, and you also can’t use it without a Microsoft account.

In the end, it seems that Microsoft has created new modern apps for all the core features of Outlook on desktop: To-Do and Sticky Notes now complement People, Mail and Calendar, and all of these apps except To-Do come pre-installed on Windows 10. For now, Sticky Notes 3.0 is still only available for Skip Ahead Insiders, but we expect Microsoft to get serious about promoting this app once it becomes generally available.

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.

Amazon could be bringing an Alexa UWP app to the Windows 10 Microsoft Store

A new report claims that Amazon is currently working on creating a UWP Alexa app and may bring it to the Microsoft Store on Windows 10. While Amazon has a Win32 version of Alexa, it’s yet to release any UWP version.

Microsoft mistakenly sends notification of a new Windows 10 Insider build to non-Insiders

After releasing a new Windows 10 Insider build to Fast ring Insiders, Microsoft began mistakenly notifying non-Insiders that a new update was available for their Windows 10 devices. The issue was later resolved following user reports and it didn’t become widespread.

Microsoft is no longer accepting new enrollments into Surface Plus financing program

Microsoft’s Surface financing program, Surface Plus, is no longer accepting enrolments. No reason was given as to why the company has chosen to end its financing program.

Disgruntled user exposes unpatched Windows zero-day exploit via Twitter

A disgruntled user has exposed a zero-day Windows exploit that is unpatched, via Twitter. The exploit is local and uses the Windows task scheduler to elevate a program’s system privileges. Microsoft has acknowledged the exploit but has not yet released a patch.

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

Microsoft news recap is a weekly feature highlighting the top Microsoft news stories of the past week. Sit back, grab some coffee, and enjoy the read!

Office 365 Home and Personal about to get better with new device limits

Microsoft’s Office 365 subscription service currently has limits on the number of devices and users that can make use of the software per subscription. This week Microsoft announced that it is changing the limits, allowing installation on unlimited devices but only 5 users can be using it at any one time. Prices will remain the same at this time.

Microsoft’s SharePoint app gets revamped on iOS and Android

SharePoint has seen a large design and feature revamp on iOS and Android. The main changes have taken place in the way a search is performed, adding a new Find tab that combines searching for Links, People, Sites and Search. In addition, AI is being used to improve the search results experience and provide quick results.

Microsoft to require US suppliers to provide 12 weeks of paid parental leave

Microsoft is setting new requirements on its US suppliers. The new requirements will make it mandatory for them to provide at least 12 weeks of paid parental leave. The requirements are there to ensure its suppliers uphold Microsoft’s ethics. Microsoft admits that this may increase its costs as a result of suppliers seeing increased costs for paying 12 weeks of parental leave.

Chinese spies are “super aggressive” trying to recruit Americans on LinkedIn, says US intel chief

Business social network LinkedIn is reportedly being used in a “super aggressive” manner by Chinese spies to recruit Americans. The spies use fake profiles on LinkedIn. This report comes from a US intelligence chief.

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

For a while, it was quite the game: follow @DonaSarkar on Twitter, decipher the sometimes exceedingly cryptic hints, and learn the build number for a new incoming Windows Insider build. With RS5, the Windows Insider program moved away from the shenanigans, instead choosing to just drop builds, at sometimes seemingly random hours and days.

However, it looks like at least one Windows Insider team member has some nostalgia for the old ways, as today Jason Howard certainly appears to be teasing a new build on the way:

I was trying to take an photo for all the #WindowsInsiders out there, but #NinjaCat got in the way! pic.twitter.com/9WHPaVkHmU

— Jason Howard (@NorthFaceHiker) August 31, 2018

Recently Jason has been active on Discord as well, yesterday announcing the new Slow Ring build a few minutes before the blog post went up, so the era of the big tease may be back upon us once again.

Stay tuned, we’ll be keeping a close eye on the usual channels and will have the latest on a new Insider build as soon as it happens.

This Fall, the Windows 10 October 2018 update will succeed to the Windows 10 April 2018 update, the company announced today. “With this update, we’ll be bringing new features and enhancements to the nearly 700 million devices running Windows 10 that help people make the most of their time”, wrote Roannes Sones, Corporate Vice President leading the platforms team at Microsoft.

Microsoft has apparently abandoned for good more creative names like “Creators Update” for a simpler naming convention, and this is probably for the better. The “October 2018 update” is easy to remember for everyone, and hopefully Microsoft will stick with this formula for all major updates going forward.

The Windows 10 October 2018 (aka Redstone 5) is currently in the polishing stage, and it won’t bring a lot of new features to the table. The main highlights are probably related to Microsoft Edge (which only gets new features twice a year), including a handy option for disabling autoplay videos on the web, but there is also the new Cloud Clipboard for copy/pasting content across Windows 10 devices. Microsoft has also updated legacy components such as NotePad and the File Explorer, adding a dark theme option for the latter.

As usual, not all Windows 10 users will receive the October 2018 update at the same time, and Microsoft said earlier this year that it has started using artificial intelligence to “greatly improve the quality and reliability of the Windows 10 April 2018 Update rollout.” To avoid update fatigue, the October 2018 update will also leverage a new predictive model to avoid rebooting your PC to install updates when you’re busy.

Microsoft is currently in a legal fight regarding a potential class action lawsuit regarding its handling of sexual harassment, discriminatory practices and handling of unpaid leave situations.

Perhaps, in a preemptive move to mitigate further outstanding employee criticism as the company navigates choppy legal waters, Microsoft is looking to build on its 2015 announcement of expanding its parental leave policies.

Announced yesterday, Microsoft will require its US suppliers to implement new paid parental leave policies.

It will require that suppliers offer their employees a minimum of 12 weeks paid parental leave, up to $1,000 per week. This change applies to all parents employed by our suppliers who take time off for the birth or adoption of a child. The new policy applies to suppliers with more than 50 employees and covers supplier employees who perform substantial work for Microsoft. This minimum threshold applies to all of our suppliers across the U.S. and is not intended to supplant a state law that is more generous. Many of our suppliers already offer strong benefits packages to their employees, and suppliers are of course welcome to offer more expansive leave benefits to their employees.

In a blog post on Microsoft On the Issues, the company goes into further detail on the importance of its suppliers following this referendum and some other statistical support for the extension of paid parental leave.

Three years ago, Microsoft made the announcement that it was expanding its campaign for paid leave to its suppliers but yesterday’s announcement now extends to the employees of those suppliers as well.

A move to umbrella paid leave for employees of suppliers is not without its costs. Microsoft is aware that requiring suppliers to abide by its new policy could be a potential strain on its working relationships and is looking for ways the company can help support the change.

Microsoft will work with our suppliers to understand the impacts of this change, and we will make these changes in a thoughtful way. We appreciate that this may ultimately result in increased costs for Microsoft, and we’ll put a process in place for addressing these issues with our suppliers. Our first step will be reaching out to our suppliers to discuss the impact of this policy change.

Ultimately, Microsoft’s new supplier-paid leave policy could become the minimum modus operandum for other tech business, and in the end, a good thing for all workers.

Starting today, Microsoft has begun testing Dolby Vison functionality on its Xbox One S and Xbox One X video game consoles.

The testing of the feature has started with Xbox Insiders in the Alpha Skip Ahead and Alpha rings but will gradually roll out to other Insiders and, eventually, the general public in the near future.

Dolby Vision is essentially a technology that allows TVs to present media with brighter colors, darker blacks, and stronger contrast than usual. It doesn’t increase the image resolution but enhances the use of color to make what’s seen on screen more realistic and vivid.

To experience Dolby Vision content, a compatible television is needed as is media that actually supports the technology. Currently a variety of programs on Netflix support Dolby Vision such as Stranger Things and Altered Carbon.

Microsoft has provided detailed instructions for how to setup Dolby Vision on Xbox One S and Xbox One X consoles here.

Are you excited for Dolby Vison content on your TV? Let us know in the comments below and then follow us on Twitter for more Xbox news.

Prison Architect: Xbox One Edition is now free for a limited time for Xbox One console owners with Xbox Live Gold.

The game is an action strategy title that tasks the player with building and managing their own prison while making decisions that could define the prison as a place for rehabilitation or intense cruelty.

Here’s the official game description for Prison Architect: Xbox One Edition:

Take control of the building and running of a maximum security prison as the critically acclaimed lock-em-up arrives on Xbox One! Your Design, Their Fate. Will you build and manage a prison to create social order where it’s failed in the past, offering rehabilitation and peaceful coexistence amongst inmates? Will your prison disregard human rights, impose intentional harshness and be devoid of any notions of wellbeing and freedom? The choice is yours.

In Prison Architect you will see the impact of your grand design on the lives of your inmates; be it a utopic center for rehabilitation, a brutal Super Max Prison or anything in between. Even when all of your prisoners’ needs are met, remember one thing – it’s still a prison and no one really wants to be there.

The Xbox 360 video game, LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars, is also expected to free for Xbox Live Gold subscribers within the next 24 hours but the discount hasn’t been activated as of the time of this writing.

The decision to give away LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars could be tied to a bigger promotional strategy from Disney and Lucasfilm for The Clone Wars cartoon series which was recently given a renewal announcement. Star Wars Battlefront II has also begun promoting Clone Wars content with new Clone Trooper skins and the upcoming addition of Obi-Wan and Anakin Skywalker who will be voiced by the same actors that voiced them in The Clone Wars series.

Which video game are you most-excited to play for free this month? Share your thoughts with the community below and then follow us on Pinterest for more Xbox video game content.

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Prison Architect: Xbox One Edition

Developer:
Double Eleven Limited

Price:
$29.99

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LEGO Star Wars III

Developer:
Disney Interactive Studios

Price:
$19.99

When Microsoft announced the Always Connected PC (also known by us tech pundits as Windows 10 on ARM) Lenovo came on board the initiative with their Miix 630 convertible. That device received some mixed reviews, but many have also since complained about the overall instability and limitations of Windows 10 on ARM processors. Well, one year later, Lenovo is back at it again and is going all in on Windows 10 on ARM with the new Snapdragon 850 powered Yoga C630 all-in-one convertible.

The Snapdragon 850 was announced about three months ago at Computex in Taiwan. Compared to the last generation Snapdragon 835, this 8-core processor comes with 30 percent increase in performance, three times the AI performance, and a 20 percent increase in battery life and Gigabit LTE speed. This all will now get ported over into the Yoga C630 convertible— the industry’s first Windows 10 device to be powered by the Snapdragon 850. Specs are listed below.

• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 850
• OS: Windows 10S
• Dimension: 12.08” x 8.52” x 0.49” (306.8 x 216.9 x 12.5 mm)
• Weight: Starting at 2.6lbs (1.2 kg)
• Display: 13.3” FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS Touchscreen
• Graphics: Qualcomm Adreno 630
• Memory: 4 GB LPDDR4X | 8 GB LPDDR4X
• Storage: 256 GB UFC 2.1| 128 GB UFC 2.1
• Audio: Stereo speaker
• Battery: Up to 25+ Hours Based on local video playback
• IO ports: 2 x USB Type-C | Left port supports: USB 3.0/PD | Right port supports: USB 3.0/PD/DisplayPort| Audio Jack, 1 | Sim card holder
• Features: Fanless design, Optional Lenovo Active Pen, Integrated FingerPrint Reader

All in all, this device is pretty promising, and it likely shows that Windows 10 on ARM is here to stay and give Intel a run for its money. Not only does the device look appealing with a thin and light soft touch polished metal design, but it also comes packed with plenty of power under the hood. Users should be able to enjoy the bump in processing power and battery life, and the convenience of being always connected with 4G LTE.

If you’re an Office 365 subscriber, you’re about to get a lot more out of your subscription. Indeed, Microsoft has just announced big changes for Office 365 Home and Personal, one of which involves an increase in the device limits (via ZDNet.)

The changes were initially noted in a post to the Microsoft Tech Community Blog. Microsoft details that starting on October 2nd, Office 365 Home and Personal subscribers will be able to install Office on an unlimited number of devices. Subscribers also can be signed into their accounts on up to five of those devices at the same time.

This is a big change over the current system where Home subscribers can install only on 10 devices across five users, and Personal subscribers on one device across PC, Mac, and Tablet. There is no word yet on if this will impact Office 365 commercial subscriptions.

Microsoft is also changing up Office 365 Home, so that starting on October 2, the number of licenses will change from 5 to 6, with a Personal Office 365 subscription remaining at one license (but now across unlimited devices, signed into any 5 at a time). The price will still stay the same at $99.99 for Home and $69.99 for Personal, and you’ll get the same access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote and 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage.

To simplify account and subscription management, Microsoft is making it so that you can access your Office 365 subscription from the Microsoft Account home page. These changes will be rolling out automatically, so feel free to subscribe to Office 365 now if you’re not already up and running with the service. Office 365 Home retails for $99.99, Office 365 Personal for $69.99, and an Office Home and Student one-time purchase is $149.99.

It looks like EA is pushing back the release of Battlefield V by a month to November 20, 2018. As noted by a MarketWatch post, EA is pushing some of its “net bookings” earnings from the Xbox One game to fiscal year 2020 instead of fiscal year 2019.

“Videogame companies use net bookings in lieu of net sales because it accounts for digital sales and in-store physical sales, among other things. EA is now expecting fiscal 2019 net bookings of $5.2 billion, down from prior guidance of $5.5 billion. About $115 million of that sum is driven by currency movements, which are also driving operating costs down. EA said it is backing its second-quarter operating guidance but is still evaluating the impact on fiscal year GAAP guidance. That information will be provided on the company’s next earnings call slated for Oct. 30. Shares were halted for the news, but have gained 22% in 2018, while the S&P 500 SPX, -0.23% has gained 9%.”

EA has not made an official comment on the reason why Battlefield V was delayed specifically. However, after looking at early pre-order numbers and receiving feedback from the Battlefield community, EA decided to move to the November release date. The move will help Battlefield V better compete with two other blockbuster games set to release in October 2018; Black Ops 4 and Red Dead Redemption 2.

Battlefield V is available for pre-order now, starting at $59.99 and will be released on November 20, 2018 on Xbox One.

Microsoft has just kicked off a new Free Play Days session for Xbox Live Gold members today, and for the first time ever Forza Motorsport 7 and Warhammer: Vermintide II will free too play through Sunday, September 2. Forza Motorsport 7 was released almost a year ago on Xbox and Windows 10, and it’s enhanced for the Xbox One X and also supports Xbox Play Anywhere.

As for Warhammer: Vermintide II, it was released on July 11 on the Xbox One and it’s currently free to play with Xbox Game Pass. Both games are currently on sale on the Microsoft Store for a limited time, with Forza Motorsport 7 Standard Edition being available for just $29.99.

In case you don’t have an active Xbox Live Gold subscription, we remind you can get 2 months of Xbox Live Gold for just $2 before the end of the month. Once you’re set up, you can start downloading both games on your Xbox One today and even try Forza Motorsport 7 on your Windows 10 PC, since that game also supports Xbox Play Anywhere.

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Warhammer: Vermintide 2

Developer:
Fatshark

Price:
$29.99⁺

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Forza Motorsport 7 Standard Edition

Developer:
Microsoft Studios

Price:
Free

There are three different promotional campaigns happening right now in the Microsoft Store for Xbox One and Xbox 360 video games.

The first campaign is the regular Deals With Gold sale for Xbox Live Gold Subscribers. Savings to look out for in the Deals With Gold titles are Aaero (now 60% off), Final Fantasy XV Royal Edition (60%), the Forza Horizon 3 Hot Wheels add-on (75%), Overwatch Legendary Edition (50%), and Soul Axiom (70%).

The second sale is the Spotlight Sale for all Xbox One owners. Deals to keep an eye on are Forza Motorsport 7 Standard Edition (40% off), R.B.I. Baseball 18 (30%), and FIFA 18 (80%).

The third sale is a Publisher Sale that sees a variety of titles discounted. Dead Rising 4 Deluxe Edition (40% off), Devil May Cry 4 Special Edition (70%), DmC Devil May Cry: Definitive Edition (67%), Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite (60%), Resident Evil 6 (60%), Strider (80%), and Darksiders II on Xbox 360 (90%).

Are you planning to pick up any of these titles this month? Let us know in the comments below and then follow us on Twitter for more Xbox One news.

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Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite – Deluxe Edition

Developer:
株式会社 カプコン

Price:
$59.99

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DmC Devil May Cry: Definitive Edition

Developer:
Capcom

Price:
$29.99

The PAX West gaming culture festival is coming back to the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle, Washington this week, and Microsoft will be here in full force with two separate booths for Xbox and Mixer. At the Xbox booth, attendees will be able to check out a cool lineup of upcoming games including The Division 2, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Devil May Cry 5, NBA 2k19, as well the Xbox/Windows 10 exclusive Forza Horizon 4.

The Xbox team will also hold a Tomb Raider-themed scavenger hunt, bring an Xbox Games Pass vending machine an even have some exclusive Xbox Official Gear up for sale. You may also want to check out the PUBG Bus designed by West Coast Customs, and get the chance to win it or a variety of other prizes.

On the Mixer booth, you’ll be able to meet with some of the most popular Mixer streamers and partners, and win some exclusive swag by winning Fortnite matches on the HypeZone LIVE stage. Don’t worry, all the festivities including two panels about the Xbox Adaptative Controller and Mixer community building will be live streamed on Mixer.com/HypeZoneLIVE and Mixer.com/Mixer.

Pax West will kick off on Friday, August 31 and last through September 3, and you can still get Monday Only badges on the official website. Make sure to follow Xbox and Mixer on Twitter if you don’t want miss any of the action.

Over the past few months, we’ve documented the slow move of the Xbox Forums over to the Microsoft Community forums. Today, on August 29, things have finally become official, and the move is now complete.

Microsoft acknowledges the official forums move over in a blog post, mentioning that it is a result of Xbox continuing to grow and evolve. The company also reminds users that the Microsoft Community forums feature the same ability to ask Xbox questions, chat about games, and get help. Additionally, there is the bonus of checking out the other communities about Windows, Office, Skype, and more.

For those new to the Microsoft Community Forums, you can still earn XP while using the Xbox area. Upvotes will give you 10 XP, a verified forums post 75 XP, replies 10 to 25 XP, and a gaming guide 75XP.  Microsoft also provides the following tricks and tips:

• Make sure to sign in using your Microsoft account to the Microsoft Community forums to create new threads and replies, and you’ll even show up as an “Ambassador” when you do.
• To get to Xbox Forums, navigate to “Categories” at the top left and scroll down to select “Xbox.”
• Now, Microsoft Community forums has a lot of threads, so to browse different thread options, make sure to use the filter boxes to hone down your search options. There is even advanced filters to narrow down your search even more.
• The first threads you see under “Featured” are sticky threads that apply to the hierarchy level you choose in the category, topic, and/or topic filter options.
• Want to start a discussion or ask a question? No problem. Make sure to navigate to “Ask a question” at the top right-hand corner of the webpage and ask away.
• When you start a new thread, you decide where it appears in the hierarchy and whether it’s a discussion tread or a question. Plus, you have the option to be notified when someone responds to your post.

You should also be reminded that the Xbox Forums for Ambassadors has also migrated over. You can find it by navigating to the “Private Categories drop-down and selecting “Ambassadors.” Once there, you will see a “Topic” drop down. Feel free to head to the Microsoft Community Forums now and check it out.

When it comes to the laptop upgrades, it’s not always about thinning the chassis or widening the viewable screen ration. Sometimes, updating a laptop can be as simple and useful as just upgrading the processor powering an already well made device, and that’s just what Dell has done.

Dell’s widely popular XPS 13 2-in-1 device has just been updated with Intel’s latest 8th Gen Core i5 and i7 processors. Dell’s super portable laptop has just been juiced with processor that improves responsiveness at lower power consumption. The new 8th Gen processors also do well in performance bursts by making use of Dynamic Power Mode in Windows 10.

Fortunately, leaving the body relatively unchanged allows Dell to provide the updated XPS 13 2-in-1’s at an affordable price for consumers.

Dell has announced an entire line up of upgraded devices and for more information keep it locked here.

We’ve seen Microsoft come up with some cool custom Xbox One systems before, and now another one has just entered the picture. Indeed, you can now bid on a custom Shadow of the Tomb Raider Xbox One X to benefit charity.

A console worthy of Lara Croft.
Now’s your chance to bid on a custom Shadow of the Tomb Raider Xbox One X, with all proceeds going to @BestFriends Animal Society: https://t.co/lz8rHGY6Dp @SquareEnix pic.twitter.com/saS8XKLxoI

— Xbox (@Xbox) August 29, 2018

Bids for the custom console are now open on eBay, with the leading price currently at $1,125. The console is decorated with custom Tomb Raider inspired designs and includes a matching Xbox Wireless Controller and also a digital download of Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Proceeds will benefit Best Friends Animal Society, which is a nationwide animal rescue and advocacy organization, with spay neuter, TNR (trap neuter return), pet adoption and no-kill programs. There are also several other items which you can bid on, including three Xbox One X 1TB Shadow of the Tomb Raider bundles which are autographed by Camilla Luddington, the actress who plays Lara Croft.

The price might be out of reach for the average gamer, but it is still nice to see Microsoft and Square Enix teaming up to help benefit charity. Everyone else with emptier pockets might just have to wait until September 14, when the Shadow of the Tomb Raider game and the Shadow of the Tomb Raider Xbox One X bundles hits store shelves.

The Dell 27 USB-C Ultrathin monitor is the world’s brightest 27-inch USB-C ultrathin monitor. With 600 nits in peak brightness, the Dell 27 USB-C Ultrathin (S2719DC) is a premium HDR monitor with VESA-certified DisplayHDR 600 and integrated with Corning Iris™ Glass Light-Guide Plate (LGP) technology. Take a look at the monitor in action in this video.

As noted in a post on the Windows Blog, the monitor has a USB-C connection that can transfer video, data, and power, all from a single port. Dell’s cutting edge design is amazingly thin, just 5.5mm at its thinnest point. The Dell 27 USB-C Ultrathin monitor allows you to enjoy crisp images with Quad HD resolution (2560×1440) and Dell’s InfinityEdge display allows a wide viewing angle enabled by In-Plane Switching technology.

The Dell 27 USB-C Ultrathin monitor shows you more than 99 percent sRGB and 90 percent DCI-P3 color coverage too. Other bonuses of the Dell 27 USB-C Ultrathin monitor include:

• • Connect your laptop to the monitor and charge up to 45W from a single source.
  • Quickly power up your devices with one of the USB downstream ports. And plug in to all your accessories on the other.
  • This TUV Certified monitor has a flicker-free screen with ComfortView, a feature that filters out harmful blue light emissions.

The Dell 27 USB-C Ultrathin monitor is the latest of new announcements made by Dell, Acer, and Intel, on new mixed-reality headsets, laptops, and more unveiled at IFA in Berlin this week.

Even though Xbox fans can now create customized versions of the basic Xbox One controller with Microsoft’s Xbox Design Lab, the company has yet to offer custom design options for its premium Xbox Elite Controller. Until now, the $149 controller was only available in black, but Microsoft is launching today a White Special Edition that should go along well with a white Xbox One S.

There is really nothing special about this new white Xbox Elite controller, except its color. Microsoft has kept the same swappable components (thumbsticks, D-pads, and paddles), Hair Trigger Locks, Rubberized diamond grip and button mapping options through the Xbox Accessory app. And to be clear, this white Xbox Elite Controller uses the same Xbox wireless technology as the original model, and there’s no Bluetooth support like on the new standard Xbox controllers.

You can pre-order the $149.99 white Xbox Elite controller at the Microsoft Store today, and it will start shipping worldwide on October 16. If you always wanted to have a white Xbox One X, the company also announced an Xbox One X Robot White Special Edition Fallout 76 bundle today, which will be available worldwide starting November 14.

It was just four months ago that Microsoft opted to close the Xbox Feedback website in favor of a new Xbox Ideas website. The company then later launched “idea drives” as a new three-step process for consumers to submit specific Xbox themed ideas and features. Today team Xbox is following up by introducing three new “idea drives,” noting that they want to hear from you.

They’re themed towards three key Xbox features— Gamer Profile, Xbox Game Pass, and Family Settings and Child Accounts. Team Xbox wants to know how you can improve these three areas, be it highlighting achievements, finding new Xbox Game Pass titles, or managing family permissions. You can learn more and submit your own thoughts by checking out the Xbox Ideas Website.

As a reminder, once feedback is collected, it enters a voting phase, followed by the completion phase where Microsoft reviews requests for new features. This shows that the Xbox team is always listening to your wants and needs, so be sure to head to Xbox Ideas today if you’ve got a burning Xbox-themed suggestion or idea.

Dell has announced a several new devices today which will ship with Intel’s new 8th Gen Intel Core processors.

The Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 devices (see above image) will come in 13, 15, and 17-inch sizes, will use the new U Series processor, and will come with option 4K UHD screens. The 13 and 15-inch models will feature a webcam with Temporal Noise Reduction which, according to Dell’s press release, will make it the “first PC-integrated USB camera to use this technology.” The 15 and 17-inch 7000 models will also make available optional NVIDIA GeForce MX150 and Intel OptaneTM Memory to boost graphics and memory respectively.

The Dell’s Inspiron 7000 2-in-1s will ship on October 2nd being “Alexa-ready” however Amazon’s virtual assistant isn’t expected to launch until a later date. The 13-inch model will start at $879.99, while the 15-inch will begin at $849.99, and the 17-inch at $1,099.99.

The Inspiron 14 5000 2-in-1, which will be available in 5481 and 5482 models, will use the new U Series processor as well. The 5482 model will feature a USB Type-C port with a NVIDIA GeForce MX130 discrete graphics card being an optional extra. The 5481 Inspiron 14 5000 model will include a “full-size HDMI port, a full-size SD card reader, two USB 3.1 Generation 1 ports, one USB 2.0 port.”

Dell’s Inspiron 14 5000 2-in-1s are expected to launch on October 2nd this year with the 5482 model starting at $599.99 while the 5481 will be slightly cheaper at $459.99.

Do any of these new computers interest you? Let us know which ones in the comments below and then follow us on Twitter for more tech news.

Earlier today, Intel formally revealed their new 8th Gen Intel Core U-series and Y-series processors. Both chips are designed for 2-in-1 devices and light laptops and enable Gigabit Wi-Fi internet speeds which are described by Intel as being up to “12-times faster” than normal. The U-series chip also provides faster LTE speeds while both are said to offer processing speeds twice that of the average five year old computer.

“The new 8th Gen Intel Core processors extend once again our leadership in delivering exceptional performance,” Intel’s Christ Walker said in a press release. “Now with Gigabit Wi-Fi, we’ve enabled faster PC connectivity, added more intuitive voice experiences and enabled longer battery life needed for the next wave of mobile computing.”

The new U-series chip is designed to support “multiple voice services” with both Amazon’s Alexa and Microsoft’s Cortana being mentioned by name. It will also enable Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos functionality on compatible devices. The Y-series on the other hand is geared more towards improved touch and stylus functionality.

Devices featuring both processors will be available this fall according to Intel.

If you’re a developer or business-based Windows Insider, you’re up for some big treats all across the board. Microsoft has just pushed out new releases for various branches of the Insider program, and even a new SDK. Heading to Windows Insiders running Windows Server 2019 is build 17744, to developers SDK Preview build 17744, and to consumers, the ISO files for build 17738.

Heads up #WindowsInsiders – we have released the ISOs for Build 17738: https://t.co/BJgkuREYSB

— Brandon LeBlanc (@brandonleblanc) August 28, 2018

First off, there is the matter of the new ISO for build 17738. Microsoft originally promised these ISO files last week, and the company has now delivered. You can find the ISO files from the Advanced Preview section of the Windows Insider website. Keep in mind that build 17738 dropped on August 14, and doesn’t really come with any new features to note of. There are some bug fixes and known issues though, and you can read up on those here.

Hello #WindowsInsiders we have released Windows Server 2019 Insider Preview Build 17744 today https://t.co/bOJB1w88oL

— Dona Sarkar (@donasarkar) August 28, 2018

Next up, is Windows Server 2019 Insider Preview build 17744. Microsoft documents all the new technical features right here but takes note of several known issues and with transitioning systems running Server Code, and the incorrect format with the Italian language in the EULA. You can download this build from the Windows Server Insider Preview download page, or sign up here to get started.

Windows 10 SDK Preview Build 17744 available now! https://t.co/C8xXTe5bK2

— Windows Blogs (@windowsblog) August 28, 2018

Finally, there is Windows 10 SDK Preview Build 17744. As usual, this release doesn’t bring many new features and rather contains bug fixes. You can dive deeper into the changes over on the Windows Blog, but as usual, the SDK will only install on Windows 10 Insider Preview builds and with Visual Studio 2017 and greater. You can download from the developer section on Windows Insider website.

We have yet to hear teases about a new Fast Ring or Skip Ahead build this week, but we will be keeping our hopes up. September is right around the corner and development of Redstone 5 is likely almost over now, so a bug fixing build will likely be coming later this week.

Microsoft’s Major Nelson today announced that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is now backward compatible on Xbox One. This now completes the Modern Warfare saga, with all the original titles from the main series now being backward compatible on Xbox One devices.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is coming to Xbox One Backward Compatibility today (and it is on sale this week) https://t.co/qPMRNs2ZLo pic.twitter.com/jWog5KHkhR

— Larry Hryb ????????☁ (@majornelson) August 28, 2018

Interestingly, the addition of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 comes several months after it was revealed that the game was being remastered for next-gen systems. Anyway, backward compatibility means that you can dive back into the original game as it played on the Xbox 360. If you own a physical copy, all you need to do is insert the disc into your Xbox One and have it download to your hard drive. If you own the digital copy, you will see it appear in the ready to install section of the Games and Apps section of the Xbox One dashboard.

In the event that you don’t already own this game, you can get it at a discount right now for $14.99 instead of $19.99 with your Xbox Live Gold membership. It’s a solid experience and was marked by many as one of the best first-person shooters of all time.