With the release of the latest system update last night, the Groups feature is now leaving the A/B testing phase and becoming available for all Xbox Preview Alpha insiders with the latest build. As the name suggests, this feature allows users to group Games and Apps together in a dedicated section in the My Games and App tabs. This build also introduces several other fixes and comes with some known issues, so here’s what you need to know.

New Features

• [Guide] If you were looking for the Pins button in Guide, instead click on the “My games & apps” button – we’ve combined Groups/Pins with “My games & apps” to put all your stuff in one convenient location for quick access!
• [My games & apps] If you go into “My games & apps” you will see a new tab on the left for your “Groups” – Pins will be your first Group and you can create more from there
• [Home] If you go to Home you will still have access to your Pins block and can add other Groups to Home after you create them
• Note: You may need to sign in/out again if you are not seeing Groups in “My games & apps” or your Pins block loading as expected after your first sign-in. If you do not see your Pins as the first Group, go to “My games & apps” > Groups and choose to reset your local Groups data

Known Issues

• A few users are still experiencing the blank names for Groups. Workaround: You may need to rename these Groups if the local reset did not clear up the issue for you.
• The Groups tab My games & apps may not show after sign in even though you can access Groups in Guide. Workaround: Sign in / out to refresh these pages.
• You may see “This group does not exist” on Home on first sign-in for your existing Groups. Workaround: Sign in / out to refresh these pages.
• Some changes might not be reflected when editing Groups between multiple consoles after coming out of connected standby. Sign in/out to fix.
• Titles hidden from Ready to install will show up as an item you can add through the “Add more” or “Create a group” page
• Choosing “Add to Home” for a game within a group will not add the block to Home
• You may see issues roaming between a GA console and preview 1806 console. Workaround: Choose to reset your Groups locally to resync from the service.
• We’ve updated the reset button at the bottom of the Groups page in “My games & apps” so now you can delete your local Groups data and re-sync with the service. This will clear up a lot of issues that may have occurred due to bad states or if data is not showing up as expected
• Sometimes users may encounter an incorrect Profile color when powering on the console.
• Work continues on the stability of the Wi-Fi connectivity. If you see any issues please report the problems for investigation.
• Some users are encountering an issue where their YouTube account is being signed out whenever they launch the app.

The new build also has some fixes for when the name of an active game wasn’t showing up in recently used games and apps. Other fixes include correcting issues with USB webcams in Mixer broadcasting and removing an issue where the “Add more” or “Create a group” page for Groups would not show all installed content.

Since the Alpha Ring is the highest ring in the Xbox Insider program, you can expect for this same build to make its way down to the other rings soon. When it does, you can then expect a general rollout to everyone else on public versions of Xbox OS, who still don’t have Groups.

Microsoft today released Windows 10 Insider Preview build 17677, and there’s plenty of new stuff to play with. But as an addition to today’s release, Microsoft also announced the first First Windows 10 Redstone 5 Windows Insider bug bash for June 22nd – July 1st.

The details are scarce as of now, but you can expect for this Bug Bash to cover new areas like Windows Sets and more. Microsoft will also hold a special Bug Bash Webcast on their Mixer channel on June 27th, so you might not want to miss out.

“Exact timing will be announced closer to the date. We’re excited to do another Bug Bash with our Windows Insiders!” wrote Dona Sarkar in today’s blog post.

The last Bug Bash was for the Redstone 4 release four months ago, so it’s been a while since Windows Insiders have had quests and bug bashing to go on. So, be sure to keep tuned for more in the weeks ahead!

Despite saying that there would be no new builds this week, Microsoft has had a change of heart. Indeed, the company made some service-side changes last night and just pushed out Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 17677 to the desktops of Windows Insiders across the world. There’s some new stuff with this build, and here’s what you need to know before installing on your PC.

New in Edge in Build 17677:

• New, clearer “Settings and more” (“…”) menu: We’ve redesigned the “Settings and more” menu in Microsoft Edge so it’s easier to find the options you’re looking for. The menu options are now organized into groups, with icons for each entry, and keyboard shortcuts (where applicable). Click the “…” button in the top-right corner of Microsoft Edge to see what’s new!
• See your top sites in the Jump List: You can now see your top sites in the Jump List on the Windows taskbar or Start Menu. Just right-click the Microsoft Edge icon to see a list of your most visited sites and pin the ones that matter most to you. Right-click on any entry to remove it from the list.
• Organize the tabs you’ve set aside: We’re making it easier to organize the groups of tabs you’ve set aside, so you can remember what’s in each group when come back to it later. Once you’ve set a group of tabs aside, choose the “Tabs you’ve set aside” icon (top left corner), and click on the label for any group to rename it.
• Do more from the “Downloads” pane: We’ve added options for “Show in folder” and “Copy link” to the right-click menu for downloads in the “Downloads” pane.

Narrator Improvements:

• Selection commands in Narrator Scan Mode: Narrator’s scan mode now supports selecting content in Microsoft Edge, Word, Outlook, Mail and most text surfaces. Standard shift- selection commands can be used as well as Control + A for the entire document. Caps + Shift + Down Arrow will speak the current selection. For a full list of selection commands, you can refer to Narrator’s Show Commands List by pressing Caps+F1. Once content is selected you can copy it to the clipboard by pressing Control + C. Formatting information will also be retained.
• There is a known issue in Edge where selecting forward will get stuck. This issue is being worked on. Selection in general is a work in progress. We would love to hear your feedback as you try out these improvements. This link will take you to the Narrator section of the Feedback Hub, or you can press Caps + E while Narrator is running.

Mobile Broadband (LTE) connectivity on Windows gets a makeover:

• Windows is transforming the networking stack after 20 years through the NetAdapter framework. This framework introduces a new, more reliable, network driver model that inherits the goodness of the Windows driver framework while bringing an accelerated data path. More details coming soon.
• We introduced the new and improved Mobile Broadband USB class driver based on the NetAdapter framework in Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 17655. We also shared instructions around how you can try out this latest non-default driver. Starting with this build, the MBB USB NetAdapter driver becomes the default driver. To try this out – install this build on a PC that relies on mobile broadband for cellular connectivity and setup cellular connectivity and turn off Wi-fi.
• In case of issues using the driver, fall back on Wi-Fi or ethernet adapters for connectivity.

Other Improvements:

• We are adding support for IPv6 to KDNET. To make room for the larger headers required for IPv6, we’re decreasing the payload size of packets. As a result, we’re declaring a new version of the protocol, so that host PCs running the latest version of the debugger can be used to debug target PCs that only support IPv4. An updated SDK and WDK will be released soon with this support.
• We are making a small change in how memory used by suspended UWP apps/processes appears in Task Manager. Going forward, the main memory column in Task Manager “Processes” tab will not include memory used by suspended UWP processes. This is to more accurately reflect the OS behavior in which the OS can reclaim memory used by suspended UWP processes if needed. This means that if you have several UWP processes suspended in the background, the OS can take back memory from these suspended UWP processes if needed and use it for something that requires more memory. New and old memory columns will be available in “Details” tab for you to do comparisons if you want.

As always, you Fast Ring and Skip Ahead Insiders should be seeing this new build now in Windows Update. We’ll be posting more on the known issues and other fixes soon, so be sure to keep tuned. Fire up those machines and get downloading, and feel free to let us know if you’re liking this build by dropping us a comment in the section below.

The Xbox One version of PlayerUnknown’s Battleground’s (PUBG) is finally getting Miramar, the game’s new desert-themed map that previously launched on PC as well as mobile. This is all part of the Spring update for the popular battle royale game, which should also continue to see some performance and stability improvements during its early access period.

Miramar, the desert-themed map dotted with large, densely built towns, rocky hills, and wide-open expanses adds an all-new battle royale gameplay experience for players. explained Joonhyuk Choi from the PUBG Development Team on Xbox Wire. “Along with the new map comes an assortment of new weapons including the R45 revolver, the Win94 lever-action rifle, and the sawed-off shotgun, as well as vehicles specially designed for the barren terrain of Miramar – the 6-seat van and off-road pickup truck.”

In addition to this new map, PUBG players can also purchase new outfits for a limited time: the new Golden Tracksuit is a variation of the fan-favorite Track Suit skin, while the Instructor Set pack includes an exclusive orange shirt, shorts, and camouflage cap. Both packs are available for $4.99 each in the in-game Lobby Store.

Back in 2016, Microsoft teamed up with NetEase, one of the biggest game publishers in China, to release Minecraft in the country. Since then, the Chinese version of Minecraft was released as a free-to-play game on PC and mobile last year, and it recently crossed 100 million registered users according to Daniel Ahmad, analyst on the digital games market in Asia (via Gamesindustry.biz)

Minecraft now has over 100 million registered users in China across the free to play versions of the game on PC & Mobile. pic.twitter.com/fYDiKRCTkW

— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) May 22, 2018

China is already one of the biggest video games market in the world thanks to local tech giants such as NetEase and Tencent (which is the publisher for the Chinese versions of PUBG and Fortnite), and it’s no surprise that Minecraft, one of the best-selling games of all time has quickly become highly popular in China. Last year, the release of Minecraft’s Chinese closed beta was quite an event as developer Mojang lit up Beijing’s Water Cube Minecraft-style on this special occasion.

Two years ago, a previous report from Seeking Alpha predicted that “the unique learning-focused gameplay of Minecraft is going to be a massive hit among Chinese people. China is full of kids that will love the creative thinking-focus of Minecraft.” This turned out to be true, even though Mojang only claimed 74 million monthly active Minecraft players earlier this year.

A potential PC version of the 2014 Xbox One video game, Sunset Overdrive, has just been rated in South Korea. An official PC release of the game has yet to even be hinted at by any official party, making this news a bit of a surprise.

Due to Sunset Overdrive being an Xbox One exclusive title, it’s likely that any possible future PC release would be an Xbox Play Anywhere title. A renewed interest in this game could also suggest a sequel is planned for release though this is all purely speculation at this time.

Assuming that this version of the game is coming out sometime in the next year, official details on it will likely be announced during Microsoft’s Xbox conference at E3 next month.

Do you want to play Sunset Overdrive on your Windows PC and would you like a sequel? Let us know in the comments below and don’t forget to like us on Facebook for more Xbox news.

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Xbox One’s precursor, the Xbox 360, just received its first system update in almost two years this week.

This update, once installed, brings the Xbox 360 dashboard up to Version 2.0.17526.0 though it doesn’t look as if any special new features or functionality were added. According to the official release notes, this update simply contained “Minor bug fixes and improvements.” It’s unclear what bug fixes and improvements were made but it is good to know that Microsoft is still taking care of older hardware, even if it is just a little.

Do you still use your Xbox 360 console or have you switched over fully to the Xbox One? Share your thoughts with the community in the comments below and make sure to follow us on Twitter for more Xbox news.

The highly anticipated video game, Battlefield V, has been announced and is planned for release on Microsoft’s family of Xbox One consoles on October 19 this year.

Battlefield V will support 4K resolution, HDR10, and variable refresh rate when played on the Xbox One X console and will still be completely compatible with the regular Xbox One and Xbox One S like all Xbox One-branded titles.

Here’s the official game description and announcement trailer.

Enter mankind’s greatest conflict with Battlefield™ V as the series goes back to its roots in a never-before-seen portrayal of World War 2. Take on physical, all-out multiplayer with your squad in modes like the vast Grand Operations and the cooperative Combined Arms, or witness human drama set against global combat in the single player War Stories. As you fight in epic, unexpected locations across the globe, enjoy the richest and most immersive Battlefield yet.

• World War 2 as You’ve Never Seen It Before – Take the fight to unexpected but crucial moments of the war, as Battlefield goes back to where it all began.
• 64-Player Multiplayer in the Chaos of All-Out War – Lead your Company in all-out multiplayer with new experiences like the massive Grand Operations mode. Take on classic modes like Conquest or squad up with friends in the cooperative Combined Arms.
• The Most Physical Battlefield Yet – Maneuver through the battlefield using a new soldier move set, fortifications, and mobile tools of destruction.
• Play Untold War Stories – Witness human drama set against global combat in the single player War Stories. Ski down Norwegian mountains as you battle for control of nuclear weapon supply lines, join the frontline with the French colonial troops, or go behind enemy lines in North Africa with a band of misfits sent to create mayhem.
• Tides of War – Embark on a journey where new content drops continuously transport you and your Company to a huge variety of key WW2 locations, where new battlefields and gear await.

A special Deluxe Edition of Battlefield V has also been announced and it, along with the regular version, are now available to pre-order digitally.

The Battlefield V Deluxe Edition will contain the base game, special customization items, bonus Starter Assignments, 20 weekly items, and access to the game three days before its official launch. Those who pre-order will also get early access to the Battlefield V Open Beta, an extra Special Soldier Set, and access to five weapons as soon as they begin playing.

The Battlefield series is one of the biggest video game franchises on Xbox One. Let us know if you’re going to buy this latest entry in the comments below and make sure to follow us on Pinterest for more video game content.

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I might be a Microsoft blogger, but like many other people around the world, an iPhone is my go-to mobile device. Sure, I do own a Galaxy S8 as a “side phone” for testing apps and other Microsoft products, but after Build 2018, I’ve been thinking a bit in retrospect. Is Apple’s walled garden causing me (and maybe other Windows 10 users) to consider choosing Android over iPhone, or ditching iPhone completely?

Factoid: I actually was once an avid Android user, but I switched to iPhone last year after a disaster involving my phone deleting all my photos from the May 2 Microsoft EDU event. There’s an explainer at the bottom of the post for more on that.

Your Phone works with Windows 10, but maybe not iPhone?

On the first day of Build 2018, Microsoft showcased Your Phone, a new experience in Windows 10 which enables a seamless transition from content on your phone to PC. I was very impressed with how it allows for messages, photos, and notifications to sync to Windows 10, but by Day 2 of Build 2018 I was a bit worried my iPhone might be left out of the fun.

The reason why? A subsequent interview from Microsoft’s Shilpa Ranganathan revealed that Apple won’t allow the Your Phone app to sync text messages.

Since Apple has a walled garden around iPhone and wants users to sync up with MacOS and other iOS devices, I was not too surprised. But as someone who is integrated with Windows 10, I did feel a bit cold knowing that I won’t ever be able to reply to text messages from my iPhone to my PC.

I do own a Mac and an iPad, but I still prefer using Windows 10 more than anything else. Yes, syncing my messages to my iPad is cool, but I barely ever use the thing to care enough about it. Long story short, if I can’t get my text messages to sync up on my daily device (a Surface Pro 4) then it might be time to permanently switch back to Android to enjoy all this upcoming Android-Windows 10 PC syncing.

Microsoft Launcher has all the Windows integrations I want

Over the past few months, Microsoft has introduced many new features to the Microsoft Launcher app on Android. Back when I was an Android user, I never really used Launcher (then called Arrow Launcher) because it wasn’t so integrated with the Windows or Microsoft ecosystem.

Now that I’m full-on iPhone, I look out and see that Microsoft Launcher on Android has come a long way— and is another selling point for Windows users to enjoy Microsoft experiences on the go with Android.

Currently, with my iPhone, most of my Microsoft integrations have to be done via an app. If I want to continue working on a Word Doc, I need to open the Word app. If I want to see that screenshot I took on my Windows 10 PC, I need to open OneDrive.  And, if I want to run Bing searches, I need to download the Bing app. Simply put, in iPhone, there are no proactive suggestions or ways to get your Microsoft content more easily.

So, like my colleague Kareem Anderson points out, I’ll say that Microsoft Launcher has more of what Windows and Microsoft fans want. The features from Microsoft Launcher listed below are just a few reasons I want to give up iPhone for good.

• Integrated Cortana that’s much more useful and accessible than a stand-alone alone iPhone App
• Fluent Design and more ways to customize wallpapers, icons, and the phone folders
• Proactive suggestions, and ability to directly pick up files where left off without having to leave the Launcher experience to go searching
• Continue files opened on Android on Windows 10 PC
• Sync clipboard from latest Windows 10 Insider builds on PC to your phone
• Bing directly integrated with the search bar

Again, this is Apple’s proprietary ecosystem striking back at me here. Yes, I can access my Microsoft stuff on iPhone, but it has to be done via an app. It’s not exactly a convenient proccess. Nothing Microsoft is built in or integrated into iPhone like how Apple integrates its services to their device.

You can *sorta* turn Android into a Microsoft Phone

I already pointed out how to turn any Android phone into a Microsoft Phone, but the same can’t be said for iPhone. Just like I’ve said above, Apple’s locked down system means and I can’t switch out of Apple defaults on my iPhone. It’s something that always bothered me, and another reason Microsoft is making me want to go back to Android.

Anyway, with Android, I can easily blank out Google and sorta switch to an all Microsoft phone if I wanted. Indeed, though some Google or Samsung apps or services are locked down and hard to get rid of, there are some workarounds with Microsoft Launcher. The list below covers the ways I’ve done this.

• I can change my App Defaults so Edge is my default browser for a more Microsoft-centric experience on Android.
• I can open the app drawer on Microsoft Launcher, press the “…” on the top, and then press on “Hide apps” to and hide certain Google apps and the other non-Microsoft which I may not be using.

Staying on iPhone for now— maybe

We’ve all heard the rumors Microsoft is working on some sort of “Surface Phone” device, so, for now, my iPhone is somewhat good enough for me. If Surface Phone rumors hold up to be true, soon there might not be a need to worry about iOS or Android at all. And, like with Windows 10 Mobile, Microsoft may just release its own device with its own services and integrations built in. If that happens, I’ll be switching back, not to Android, but to Windows for my mobile needs.

But looking at things right now, I really do enjoy the peace of mind, performance, and security of the locked down iOS ecosystem, not to forget iMessage. It is a bit frustrating to not have it so heavily integrated with Microsoft stuff like on Android, but it is a good thing for the security of the iOS platform.

At the end of the day, there is some sort of evolution going on at Microsoft. The company is clearly trying to be a cross-platform kind of company now that it has no mobile phone platform of its own. But Microsoft’s apps and services don’t work as well on iPhone as they do on Android because Apple won’t fully let them into the locked down ecosystem of iOS. I’ll be keeping all this at the back of my head, so feel free to let me know if you agree with me by dropping us a comment below.

eSports has become a burgeoning talking point for gaming. Be it investments, studio development or publishing participation, the topic of electronic sports has been all the rage recently.

With the popularity of eSports growing over the past couple of years, so too has the spotlight of its inclusionary nature, so much so, that Microsoft is now partnering with the Special Olympics USA Games to host its first-ever pilot video gaming tournament at the USA Games in Seattle.

We’re excited to announce that we’re sponsoring the first gaming tournament with the Special Olympics at the USA Games later this summer in Seattle https://t.co/pm3GKwrrRD

— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) May 22, 2018

As a premier partner with the Special Olympics Microsoft is looking to bridge the rich communities of both gaming and people who participate in the Special Olympic games, together with the new Xbox Gaming Tournament this year Monday, July 2, at the University of Washington.

“Many of our athletes are avid gamers and research indicates playing video games can potentially boost cognitive and motor skills of people with intellectual disabilities,” said Beth Knox, President and CEO of the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games.  “We are thrilled to partner with Xbox to bring the first-ever video gaming tournament to the USA Games. We hope everyone will come out and support the competitors in this pilot event.”

The tournament will be held at the University of Washington Husky Union Building from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm in the Lyceum room. Last month, Microsoft held Forza Motorsport 7 qualifiers at its national stores and selected eight teams that had houses both athlete-players with and without intellectual disabilities.

While the eight teams battle it out for top rankings, Microsoft will also be featuring additional gaming stations for fans who want to do more than just watch their favorite teams. The 2018 USA Games Fan Zone, located in the Northwest Plaza at Husky Stadium will host playable games such as Forza Motorsport 7, Minecraft, and Super Lucky’s Tale all week long.

Microsoft is pushing out a new build for Xbox Insiders in the Xbox One Preview Alpha Ring today. The build is described as the 1806.180517-2122 system update and it will bring support for a range of new features to consoles such as app and games groups, better search, more accessibility options, and the ability to save more than one Wi-Fi password on an Xbox One console.

It’s important to note though that while this update adds support for these features, some of them may not be enabled immediately and could appear days or weeks from now.

Here’s the official list of new features with this update.

Group Your Games and Apps

With so much content available, fans have asked for more options to organize libraries of games and apps.  Today, we’re introducing a powerful new enhancement to Pins, which we call “Groups.” With Groups, you can create multiple collections of content made up of anything from within My Games & Apps. You can also assign custom names to each Group, organize and order them, and add individual Groups to Home. Groups will appear across My Games & Apps, Home and Guide, so you’ll be able to access your Groups at a moment’s notice. Best of all, Groups are tied to your Xbox Live account, so they will automatically sync across multiple Xbox One consoles. We’ve started you off with a Group that should look very familiar — your Pins!

Improved Search Functionality

Searching for content is now even easier!  Now pressing the Y button anywhere in the dashboard will bring up the search dialog.  This process is found in many apps, but now you can do it anywhere within the dashboard.  Not seeing enough results for your search? Hit enter or click the “more results” button to view a full page for your search results.

Multiple Wi-Fi passwords

The team at Xbox wants to enable gamers to hop online and play with ease.  This feature enables users to store multiple Wi-Fi passwords on their console.  This will make jumping between networks even easier and give you even more reasons to pack your Xbox on your next vacation!

Additional Accessibility Options

The Narrator feature on Xbox One now supports five additional languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Swedish, and Dutch. We’re also adding an Australian version of English language for Narrator, so Australian users will no longer have to select US or UK English in order to use Narrator.

Improvements to Family Settings

New features will allow for the right experience for child accounts.

Experiments

A subset of Xbox Insiders may see some experimental features in addition to what’s listed above.  These are designed to gauge interest and solicit feedback from a more focused group.  For example, some users will be able to share game-specific stats amongst your friends right on your home page.  While others may find greater functionality within Clubs.

This update also fixes a variety of issues affecting Game DVR, Groups, Microsoft Edge, and system performance.

Have you installed this update yet? Let us know what you think of these new features in the comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Pinterest for more Xbox One content.

Microsoft may have given up on the dream of people cradling 6-inch pieces of glass and metal with their company name plastered on the back but the fantasy of having their presence front and center on those handheld devices is perhaps more alive and well than it has been in recent years.

Thanks to some clever development from their Garage team, Microsoft managed to finagle its way onto some Android phones via a customizable home screen launcher and over time, the company’s launcher experience has become as fluid and useful as any native OEM customization of Android.

I’m going to lay it out there, the Microsoft Launcher isn’t the second coming of Windows Phone, nor has it been a sunshine and rainbows experience through its years of development but for the 15 million plus users who seek a bit of Microsoft refuge from the seeming inflexibility of the modern smartphone duopoly landscape, some of the updates recently brought to the launcher are a welcomed eschewal.

My Launcher Experience

During my time with my Lumia 950, I flirted with the purchase of a couple of low-cost Android phones (so it wouldn’t really count as cheating) and one of the first things I did was replace my relatively minimal Moto G 4 Play skin with the Arrow Launcher, at the time. I used the Arrow Launcher for testing and reporting purposes. I had no real attachment to the launcher and it didn’t serve as an everyday tool for me, so when things would glitch or break on the launcher, I would simply toss the phone in the drawer and chalk it up to poor development and go on enjoying my Lumia 950. It was easy to forget about the Arrow Launcher, as its limited ties into other Microsoft services were overshadowed by my newfound appreciation of access to a sky-high wall of apps experiences that were missing from my Lumia 950.

Then Mr. Windows phone death himself, Joe Belfiore, came back from hiatus and drove the final nail in the OS’ coffin, I was forced to reevaluate the future of my smartphone experiences.

After I cycled through my five steps of grief (a couple of times over), I finally made took the plunge and bought myself a Samsung Galaxy Note. While the rationale might seem irrelevant now, I justified my purchase at the time by claiming some future-proof nonsense that corresponded with its pen functionality. If I was going to leave my Lumia 950, it was going to be for a smartphone that could not only do more but help condense my tech load. I don’t use pen enough to warrant the purchase of a Surface Pro but I didn’t want to miss out on the few opportunities for pen interaction that could arise, such as signing documents, highlighting stuff in images, or when the weather is too cold to use an exposed fingertip (visiting the in-laws in New Hampshire during winter), so the Note 8 it was for me.

I tried using the Samsung Experience for as long as I could before I started seeing ads for the new round of Pixel devices. There was just something about the marketing material that had me envious of that particular home screen layout; the button placement, the look of icons etc. So I went foraging through launcher experiences trying to replicate the look and feel of a Pixel on my Note 8. At times, I had a pretty close replica of the Pixel experience on my Note 8, but with launchers, that experience came at the expense of speed, bugs, and general glitches that ultimately were just off-putting.

Switching back to the Samsung Experience, I still felt there was something lacking despite the launcher being a pretty fluid and straightforward experience. I couldn’t make good use of Bixby (took too long to accumulate points), I didn’t like the folder or icon layouts, and it didn’t offer any overt advantages to my mostly Microsoft-tied smartphone lifestyle, but my memories of the Arrow Launcher on my Moto G, kept prevented my fingers from pressing that install button; that was, until Build 2018.

Back In The Fold, Build 2018

During Microsoft’s developer conference this year, the company showcased its revamped Arrow Launcher, now called Microsoft Launcher, and a handful of tweaks that will make my time on either my Note 8 or Windows 10 PC feel native on both devices, so I downloaded and installed it.

Microsoft Launcher is a vastly improved experience over what I tested a year ago. Perhaps, with the full support of the company now behind the development, the developers are free to implement and deliver updates much quicker and add newer features at an accelerated pace. In the version of the Microsoft Launcher that I am using (non-beta, I would assume), the level of customization has been greatly improved:

• Allowing users to set themes and get as granular as opacity, blur, accent and header colors.
• Determine the shape and color of app folder, allowing users to opt for a more rounder folder look rather than the standard rounded-square iPhone-esque folders used in the original Arrow Launcher
• Tweaks to the dock that allow system-wide sizing of the icons and use of icon packs if when available on the device.
• The App drawer can now be viewed/scrolled vertically AND horizontally for people trying to make the use out of smaller screen devices.
• A list of programmable gesture shortcuts that enable users to apply quick launch actions to double taps, multiple finger scroll
• Bing search has been expanded to include vision and voice
• Sort folders alphabetically (for the real anal retentive types)
• Sort app drawer alphabetically (this just makes sense)
• The ability to set Cortana as default search engine as well as the default digital assistant on the phone was a nice bonus.

Beyond some of the tweaks to the existing Microsoft Launcher framework, some newer features that lured me back into the fold were the adjustments for Clipboard, Timeline (TM), search features built into the camera, and the inclusion of Microsoft Rewards integration.

Now I can use the Clipboard feature recently developed into Windows 10 to bring a direct copy/paste of content straight to my phone with no need for an extra pasting app or paying for a 3rd party services or keyboard to fulfill my data transfer needs, sorta like using Edge’s Read Later feature across device ecosystem.

I haven’t been able to try Timeline yet in this latest review of Microsoft Launcher, but it sure looks pretty damn interesting.

However, when I’m connected to both Microsoft Launcher and my Microsoft account, I’ve been able to rack up 3,100 points for Bing Rewards over the last week as I funnel most of my searches through Bing. Part of the secret sauce of Microsoft Launcher for me has been going back to using the Bing app and search service on my phone. I was previously using Google on my Note 8 as Bixby search seemed amorphous and lacking to me. But now, with Microsoft Launcher and the Bing app, the search experience on my Note 8 feels just as native, functional and useful as Google and Google Assistant.

Tossing the Bing search Bar to the top of the home screen has prompted me to use Bing far more than I did with the Google Search Bar planted firmly at the bottom.

For me, the bottom line has been that Microsoft has finally put some considerable resources behind its new approach to mobile. Not to speak ill of the dead, but for the last year or so, Microsoft’s mobile efforts have been centered around tangential app offerings and with the new Microsoft Launcher, it finally seems that the company has found the necessary webbing to pull all of its mobile offerings together.

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Microsoft Launcher

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