After a period of testing with Xbox Insiders, Microsoft is saying today that the Xbox One May Update (Version 1805) should now be rolling out to all consoles around the world. This version of the Xbox OS comes with some new features, including 120Hz support, and much more. Here’s what you need to know before installing.

Xbox One Insiders – Thank you for fighting 1805, today we release that build to all users and we start a new journey next week!

— Brad Rossetti (@WorkWombatman) May 17, 2018

Update: Microsoft has officially posted about today’s Xbox Update. Accordingly, we’ve updated an earlier version of this post to remove reference to the Group feature for My Games and Apps. This grouping feature is not shipping with the update as we had reported earlier. We’ve also updated the headline to reflect the official name for today’s update— the May Xbox Update

120 Hz Support

If you own a monitor or TV that supports a 120Hz refresh rate, you’ll now be able to take advantage of that technology with Xbox One X and Xbox One S. This is a high refresh rate and it will make for a smoother gaming experience and lower latency on some displays. You’ll also notice that some games will no longer stutter and tear if you choose this output on your monitor.

Discord on Xbox Live

As previously announced, this update allows you to connect your Xbox Live account with your Discord account. You’ll need to head to the linked social accounts settings menu on Xbox one to find this option. After linking, you’ll notice that your Xbox Live stats will be shared on Discord, so your friends and users there can see what you’re playing. You can also link via the Discord app on PC or Mobile.

Trimming Clips from the Guide

Thanks to this update, you can now trim clips directly from the Guide. This cuts out the need to go to Upload Studio to make quick cuts to saved clips. It also builds on the ability to share to Twitter which was added in the last Xbox update.

Family Settings, updated Xbox Accessories App, and new intuitive button commands

Final of the new features in this update are enhancements to the Xbox Accessories app, Family Settings, and new intuitive button commands. First off, Microsoft has modernized the Xbox Accessories app to make it easier to use and look at. Secondly, they’ve also added a “Details” page in family settings so parents can better leverage their controls on Xbox One. And finally, with the new intuitive button commands, you can use the “View” button on Home to edit the order of blocks or reorder items within Groups.

With this update now rolling out, you can expect for Microsoft to get to work on the next version of the Xbox OS soon. Microsoft’s Brad Rossetti teased that Xbox Insiders will be getting their first taste of a new journey next week, so best to keep tuned for more.

Back in the day, a mantra that served as the cornerstone of financial viability and the lifeblood to Microsoft was, “Developers! Developers! Developers!” The chant was fully embodied as former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer ran across a conference stage in unbridled exuberance reciting the words, “Developer! Developers! Developers!” as he attempted to invigorate a room full Windows developers into creating the next wave of Windows-based experiences for consumers.

While Microsoft still leans heavily on the creativity and ingenuity of its Windows developers, a seemingly new mantra is developing under the new CEO of the company that reads a bit more like “Consolidate! Consolidate! Consolidate!” Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has been making some sweeping changes that have fostered the idea that company is looking to streamline much of their software, services and hardware lineups.

Microsoft’s efforts to consolidate are permeating throughout the company and have made their way to its various speech services. According to a report from Mary Jo Foley over at ZDNet, Microsoft is taking the first steps to combine their various speech services under a single programmable API and development SDK.

Microsoft’s single SDK will help developers create speech experiences across services such as Office, Cortana, Bing, Microsoft Translate, Windows 10, HoloLens and Xbox (if they get serious about speech on the console, again).

Yesterday, Microsoft disclosed additional details about the consolidation of speech services, that were first acknolwedge during its developer conference last week.

“Microsoft has been invested in voice and speech for years. As you saw most recently at Build, we announced an important set of updates for the speech capabilities of Microsoft Cognitive Services – a new unified Speech service in preview. From a broader customer perspective, we’re listening to feedback and hearing people are increasingly wanting to use voice to engage with PCs so we’ll continue to test/deliver new experiences. Beyond this, we have nothing to share regarding details on future plans.”

Microsoft’s plans of consolidation are all encompassing and rather dense as the company wants its API and SDK to be accessible to all levels of developer skill, work online and offline, in hybrid or batch situations and range from open commands to more nueanced conversational interactions and available in 28 spoken languages.

Obviously, most of Microsoft’s more ambitious efforts are not yet ready for public consumption but there was a preview of its consolidate speech service efforts shown during Build 2018. The preview supports unsurprisingly, Windows but also Linux and Android at the moment with eventual support for iOS and macOS X somewhere down the line.

Aside from the preview, Microsoft plans to give its new API and SDK its first real world test as it moves its Translator App over to the new consolidate speech service SDK in an upcoming update with Office to follow at some point in the future as werll.

For developers, Microsoft believes it will have an SDK available within the “next few months” according to a spokesperson who chatted with Mary Jo.

Today, May 16, marks Global Accessibility Awareness Day. Microsoft has long been on a mission to empower every person and organization to achieve more, and the company is highlighting how it’s done just that by making Windows more accessible for everyone.

At the forefront of things are the ways in Which Windows can adapt for those who have disabilities, or unique work styles. Over the past few years, Microsoft has introduced features such as a magnifier, color filters, high contrast mode, narrator, and learning tools in Microsoft Edge. All of these tools and features have benefited many users, and one person in particular, who Microsoft’s Yusuf Mehdi mentions in today’s blog post.

This feature is invaluable to many of our customers, including Nori, who has had a visual impairment since birth. Narrator has helped her pursue her passion for Japanese culture and public speaking. She’s a fan of using it to prepare for Japanese oratory competitions (which she has won five years in a row!). We’re grateful to have Nori in our Windows Insider program—her insights help us continue to develop tools to reflect the diverse needs of our customers.

Fittingly, Microsoft also took the wraps off their customizable Xbox Adaptive controller today, designed to bring gaming to those with disabilities. It’s all just one small part of how Microsoft is empowering everyone. You can learn more by heading to your local Microsoft Store from May 29 to June 2 for Ability Week and see the latest Microsoft hearing, vision, mobility, and cognitive assistive technologies in action.

After we saw a leaked image of it earlier this week, Microsoft’s new Xbox Controller designed for accessibility is now official. The company is calling the new device the Xbox Adaptative Controller, and it has been developed in partnership with several organizations including The AbleGamers Charity, The Cerebral Palsy Foundation, Craig Hospital, SpecialEffect, and Warfighter Engaged. All these organizations helped Microsoft create a fully customizable controller that will help make gaming more accessible for everyone.

The new controller has a rectangular shape and features two large buttons in the center that can be assigned to any function by using the Xbox Accessories app. On the back, there are 19 3.5 mm jacks for plugging external switches, buttons, mounts, joysticks and more, and Symbols are also embossed along the rear edge at the top of the controller to help gamers identify each port. There are also USB ports on either of the controller for the Left and RIght thumbstick inputs, a headphone jack on the left plus USB-C and DC power ports on the back.

“To make the Xbox Adaptive Controller a viable solution for the widest possible range of gamers with limited mobility, we’ve worked closely with third-party manufacturers to support external inputs which can be plugged in to the new controller,” explained Xbox head Phil Spencer. “These inputs include PDP’s One-Handed Joystick for the Xbox Adaptive Controller, Logitech’s Extreme 3D Pro Joystick, and Quadstick’s Game Controller,” he added.

The Redmond giant chose to announced its new Xbox Adaptive Controller on Global Accessibility Awareness Day, and the company deserves credit for trying to make video games more inclusive. Microsoft said today that the new controller will be priced at $99.99 USD and be available exclusively on the Microsoft Store, but it won’t ship until later this year. Phil Spencer said today that the company will share more information about the new controller at E3 2018, which is just a couple of weeks away.

The first part of Minecraft’s Aquatic Update is now live on Xbox One consoles, Windows 10 PCs, Windows 10 Mobile phones, Oculus, and Mixed Reality devices.

This first phase of the Aquatic Update brings, as its name suggests, water related content and functionality to the popular Minecraft game such as swimming, floating items, shipwrecks, and ruins. This update also adds eight Xbox Achievements to Minecraft for players to unlock. Here’s the full list of new content and changes being made with this update.

• Fish (salmon, cod, pufferfish, tropical fish)
• Bucket of fish
• Coral (coral, coral fans, coral blocks)
• Kelp, Dried Kelp, Kelp Block
• Dolphins (follow boats, get a boost swimming next to them)
• Icebergs
• Blue Ice
• Nine Ocean Biomes (frozen, deep frozen, cold, deep cold, lukewarm, deep lukewarm, normal, deep normal, warm)
• Underwater Ravines & caves
• Sea grass
• Sea pickle (w/ illumination! Up to 4 in a block – only light up underwater)
• Shipwrecks
• Treasure chests (in ruins, shipwrecks)
• Ruins
• Swimming
• Treasure Map
• Buried Treasure
• Heart of the Sea in buried treasure chests (non-active)
• Trident
• Trident enchantment
• Stripped Logs
• Buttons, Trap Doors, Pressure Plates with variation
• Carved Pumpkins
• Floating Items
• Boat Polish (smoother control)
• 8 new achievements
• Water has a completely new look and increased visibility while underwater
• Prismarine Stairs and Slabs
• New swimming animation while sprinting in water
• Minecraft: Education Edition Chemistry features can now be enabled under Cheats! For tips on getting started, check out the Chemistry Lab Journal

The second phase of the Aquatic Update will add even more water-related items and features to Minecraft however no release date for it has been given yet.

Have you installed the Aquatic Update on your version of Minecraft yet? Let us know if you’re digging it in the comments below and make sure to follow us on Pinterest for more Xbox and Minecraft content.

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Microsoft announced today that both it has entered a deal with the US Intelligence Community worth millions of dollars over six years. Under the agreement, the Intelligence community will use Microsoft’s products, like Office 365 for US Government and Azure Government, via a Joint Enterprise Licensing Agreement awarded to Dell Inc.

The company already had an ongoing relationship with government agencies, but this latest deal brings 17 more US Intelligence agencies on board with a digital transformation. With a Pentagon contract decision looming, Microsoft says the deal also “bolsters” the company’s position as the leading government cloud provider. The company explains:

This new agreement provides the IC with a vehicle for accessing the latest Microsoft technologies to further empower its agencies, optimize operations and modernize infrastructure. This agreement positions Microsoft to help the IC achieve its mission at home and around the world with a trusted cloud and modern workplace solution that keeps critical data secure, while delivering advanced capabilities including artificial intelligence, machine learning and large-scale data analysis.

Office 365 for US Government and Azure Government are built to fit the government’s strict security requirements. There are eight geographically distributed Azure Government data centers, and they all host no commercial data. Learn more by checking here.

Despite Microsoft launching its ID@XBOX program back in 2014, the company’s Xbox One console is apparently the least preferred platform among indie developers, according to a new survey from GamesIndustry.biz. 47.5% of the 61 developers surveyed at EGX Rezzed this year told the publication that if they could only release their game on a single platform, they would do so on PC. Surprisingly, the Nintendo Switch came second with 32.8%, ahead of the PS4 (11.5%), Mobile (6.6%) and Xbox One (1.6%).

Considering that both the PS4 and the Xbox One have more power and a bigger install base than the one-year old Nintendo Switch, it’s quite interesting to see the portable console being more attractive for this panel of indie developers. Several developers highlighted the Switch broad appeal and “innovative features,” while also pointing out some problems with Microsoft and Sony’s platforms:

Although Sony doubled-down on indie games with the PlayStation 4, developers aren’t enamoured with the platform. That said, many were quick mention the support offered by Sony to indie developers, and expressed an appreciation for the curated store.

Regarding the Xbox, one developer said it was a hard choice between Microsoft’s platform and the Switch, but that Xbox is “easier to deal with”. This sentiment was echoed by other developers on the show floor who wanted to release on Switch, but opted for other platforms.

Over the years, Microsoft’s ID@Xbox did well to bring great indie games on the platform such as Inside, The Witness, Stardew Valley, Rogue Legacy, or more recently Conan Exiles, and the program celebrated 500 titles released on Xbox One and Windows 10 last year. The fact that indie developers can also use the Xbox Game Preview program to provide early access to their games is also very positive, especially since this is something both Sony and Nintendo don’t currently offer on their respective platforms.

In addition to its ID@Xbox program, Microsoft also launched the Xbox Creators Program last year to make it easier for indie devs to publish their games to Xbox One and Windows 10 without the need for concept approval. Unfortunately, none of the games released through this new program really resonated with gamers so far, and it’s clear that ID@Xbox games still get significantly more exposure. As a reminder, the ID@Xbox Game Fest is still onging and you might want to check out the latest discounts on Cuphead, Cities: Skylines, Ark: Survival Evolved and more.

The first half of Star Wars Battlefront II’s big Season 2 update has begun to rollout to Xbox One consoles in all regions and should be live for everyone within the next hour.

In addition to the usual bug fixes and character balancing, this update brings a complete overhaul of Battlefront II’s menus that does away with the hologram aesthetic and replaces it with high resolution character models (see above image).

This first half of Season 2 also features the debut of new appearances (skins) for Leia and Lando, a new 2-on-2 version of Heroes Versus Villains, the Jabba’s Palace map, Starfighter Assault content in Arcade, and new milestones to work towards.

Starfighters are ready and waiting for you. pic.twitter.com/MMXNFjEUXg

— Ben Walke (@BenWalke) May 16, 2018

All of this new content is completely free for owners of the game. The second half of Season 2 is expected to drop in June though all of its content is being kept a secret, presumably due to spoilers from the Solo: A Star Wars Story movie which isn’t out yet.

Are you excited for new Battlefront II content? Let us know in the comments below.

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The classic Xbox 360 video game, Fight Night Champion, is now available to play on Xbox One consoles as it was added to the backwards compatibility library earlier today.

The game originally came out on the Xbox 360 back in 2011 and was the first EA title to incorporate a cinematic story mode. Fight Night Champion’s graphics were praised by critics for their realism when it first came out however they naturally look a bit dated now. Here’s the official game description. You can buy it digitally for your console here.

More than just a change to the franchise name, Fight Night Champion takes the boxing experience one giant step forward by delivering an experience never before seen in an EA SPORTS video game. History will be made with this revolutionary iteration that builds upon the best-in-class gameplay and physics engine of Fight Night Round 4, while immersing you in a world of brutality, uncertainty, betrayal, and redemption. Survive the brutal road to redemption with Fight Night Champion.

Do you enjoy playing Xbox 360 games on your Xbox One? Let us know your favorite backwards compatibility title in the comments below.

We’re now just a week away from the release of State of Decay 2 on Xbox One and Windows 10, and Microsoft has turned on its marketing machine for what will be the second big Xbox exclusive to be released this year after Sea of Thieves. To celebrate the release of the zombie survival game, the Xbox team has created the world’s first Xbox Gaming Bunker inside of an authentic WWII-era location.

“The bunker is an authentic World War II-era Quonset bunker just seven miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Originally built to house military personnel in 1947, the 4,000 square-foot space perfectly embodies the feeling of the dangerous, unpredictable dystopia inspired by State of Decay 2,” the blog post on Xbox Wire reads.

This Xbox Gaming Bunker will welcome fans starting tomorrow, May 16 to Sunday, May 20 May 20 from 10:00 a.m. PDT to 6:00 p.m. PDT, though please note that you’ll have to pre-registering online on the dedicated website. Inside, you’ll be able play the game on four Xbox One stations, and also take a look at everything you need to survive a zombie apocalypse. The Xbox team has also planned a special Xbox Live session with “The Walking Dead” star Chandler Riggs on May 15, and you’ll be able to watch the livestream on Mixer starting at 4PM PDT.

In the fallout of the Facebook Cambridge Analytica sharing scandal, many have started to worry about their privacy and what exactly is done with the data shared with companies online. Well, according to a report from GameSpot, Microsoft is now taking action and is notifying some gamers about the information the company shares with publishers on Xbox.

Though we’re not seeing this message just yet, GameSpot says Microsoft is pushing out a message to Xbox One consoles which reiterate the company’s privacy and data sharing policies. It essentially details that when you play, Xbox Live enabled games or apps, Microsoft will share your play habits and some of your information with the developer or publisher of said game or app.

That shared information includes your country, age range, Gamertag, Xbox Live Avatar, information on your Gamerscore, and how much time you’ve played the game or app. Other shared information includes social data such as club memberships; friends, other users you have played with, and information about your interactions and communications.

Importantly, it also is explained that Microsoft can not control what publishers do with that data since it is determined by their own privacy policies. Microsoft also explains that the information is only collected to help “deliver your online experiences, improve the game or app, diagnose problems, provide support, and connect you with other users.”

These privacy notifications were first hinted in a blog post last month, and have rolled out to Alpha Ring Xbox Insiders in the last round of updates. You can always stop sharing your app or game data with a developer by uninstalling the game, and revoking access. More information on Microsoft’s privacy policies is also available here.

Microsoft took the wraps off the weekly Deals with Gold last night, and there’s plenty of discounts to go around. As usual, though, there’s also the Spotlight sale, which this week is putting an emphasis and big discounts on several LEGO Games. We’ve collected some of the biggest the deals below, so here’s what you need to know.

Lego Games

• LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham: 50% off now $10.00 instead of $19.99
• Lego City Undercover: 40% off now $17.99 instead of $29.99
• Lego Jurassic World: 50% off $10.00 instead of $19.99
• Lego Marvel Super Heros: 50% off now $10.00 instead of $19.99
• Lego Marvel Super Heros 2: 50% off, now $30.00 instead of $59.99

Lego DLCS

• Lego Batman 3 Season Pass: 50% off now $7.50 instead of $14.99
• Lego Marvel Super Heros 2 Season Pass: 50% off now $7.50 instead of $14.99
• LEGO Marvel’s Avengers Season Pass: 50% off now $500 instead of $9.99
• LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens Season Pass: 60% off now $4.00 instead of $9.99

You can find the complete list of games part of this week’s Spotlight sale by heading here to Major Nelson’s blog. Keep in mind that these deals are only valid through May 21st, so best to act fast if you’re interested in any of these discounts.

After teasing a next-gen Surface Hub in March, Microsoft today took the wraps off Surface Hub 2 via a new blog post by Panos Panay. The Surface chief says the hub is for a “new culture of work” and is “designed to be used by Teams to get people out of their seats.” Features of the Hub 2 include support for a new Surface Pen, a 4K+ 50.5” multi-touch display at 3:2 aspect ratio, 4K cameras, integrated speakers and far-field mic arrays.

Interestingly, the Surface Hub 2 has a hinge system which allows it to be rotated between landscape and portrait mode, and can be mounted on a wall or used with a rolling stand to make it more accessible. Multiple (up to four) Surface Hubs can also be tiled together in portrait mode for “undeniable visual effect” and enabling teams to get work done across Microsoft Whiteboard, PowerBI, PowerPoint, and a full view video call.

Surface Hub 2 scales and adapts to your space through tiling up to 4 screens together in portrait or landscape view. Dynamic rotation allows you to use the best orientation for your content to help people work in the way that best suits them and the people they are collaborating with. It is also significantly easier to move around your workspaces than its predecessor. We’ve teamed up with workplace expert Steelcase to create a system of rolling stands and easy-to-use mounts to help Surface Hub 2 customers be truly mobile, gain a new perspective and capture their ideas wherever they do their best work.

Microsoft also promises that Surface Hub 2 will support multi-user sign in, so multiple people can authenticate in the same workspace and simultaneously share their documents. And though not specifically mentioned by Panos Panay, it looks as though Surface Hub 2 will also have a thumbprint login system for Windows Hello, which can be seen at the 47-second mark in the video above.

The Redmond giant is not immediately sharing any pricing details and says it will begin testing the Surface Hub 2 with select commercial customers in 2018, with it being made available for purchase in 2019. More will be coming soon, and you can check out more on Surface Hub 2 by checking here.

This week’s Deals With Gold titles have been announced and there are some good savings to be had especially for fans of the Devil May Cry franchise.

DmC Devil May Cry: Definitive Edition has been given a 67% discount on Xbox One while Devil May Cry 4 Special Edition is now half-price, and the Devil May Cry HD Collection is now 30% cheaper than before. On the Xbox 360 console, DmC Devil May Cry has been given a 70% discount, the Devil May Cry HD Collection a 75% discount, and Devil May Cry 4 a 67% discount.

Other Deals With Gold discounts worth mentioning this week are the Xbox One’s Dragon Age: Inquisition: Game of the Year Edition (75% off), I Am Bread (75% off), Mass Effect Andromeda (67% off), and WWE 2K18 (50% off). On Xbox 360 a variety of Borderlands and BioShock titles have been given discounts ranging from 60 to 70% and The Witcher 2 is now 85% cheaper than usual.

Deals With Gold discounts are available to Xbox Live Gold subscribers. You can view the full list of discounted games here or within the Gold section on the Xbox One dashboard.

Are you planning to buy any of these games? Let us know in the comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Pinterest for more Xbox content.

The popular Overwatch video game will be free to play on Xbox One consoles from May 25th through to the 28th. Due to its online nature, an Xbox Live Gold subscription will be required to play.

All content in Overwatch will be unlocked during this period and players will be able to earn Xbox Achievements as well.

“Attention, recruits! The second anniversary of Overwatch is around the corner, and if you haven’t already had the opportunity to suit up and save the world as one of our heroes, now’s your chance,” the official announcement reads. “For this free weekend, we’re making Overwatch’s full roster of 27 heroes and 18 maps available for play in a variety of modes, including Quick Play, Custom Games, and the Arcade. Players will also be able to level up, earn Loot Boxes, and unlock a variety of different customization options for their heroes. Plus, if you decide to purchase Overwatch after test driving the game, you’ll get to keep any progress that you made during the weekend—just be sure to use the same Blizzard, Xbox Live, or Sony Entertainment account that you played on.”

Overwatch has been a phenomenal success since its launch a few years ago with millions of gamers from all around the world playing it on a regular basis.

Are you going to play Overwatch next weekend? Let us know in the comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter for more Xbox news.

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After adding eight new games to the Xbox Games Pass catalog this month, Microsoft will remove 21 of them on May 31, including several classics such as Borderlands and the BioShock trilogy (via VG247). The only Xbox One games to be removed at the end of the month are Blood Bowl 2 and Defense Grid 2, and the rest are Xbox 360 titles.

The full list of games to be removed at the end of the month can be found below:

• Age of Booty
• Bionic Commando: Rearmed 2
• BioShock
• BioShock 2
• BioShock Infinite
• Bloodbowl 2
• Borderlands
• Bound by Flame
• de Blob 2
• Dead Rising 2: Caze Zero
• Defense Grid 2
• Dig Dug
• Final Fight: Double Impact
• NeoGeo Battle Coliseum
• Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising
• Pac-Man Championship Edition DX+
• Sacred 3
• Sega Vintage Collection: Alex Kidd & Co.
• Sega Vintage Collection: Golden Axe
• Soulcalibur
• XCOM: Enemy Within

Microsoft usually remove titles from the Xbox Games Pass catalog at the end of every month, but to our knowledge it’s the first time that so many games will be removed all at once. If you have yet to play any of them, you still have a little more than two weeks before they disappear from the catalog. Additionally, we remind you that your Xbox Games Pass subscription grants you a 20% discount on each of them if you want to own one of these for good.

We’re still a month away from E3 2018, and many have been wondering what Microsoft may have to showcase to the world at the annual gaming conference. Well, an intriguing image has just been leaked by Walking Cat, and it looks similar to a new Xbox Controller designed for accessibility.

https://twitter.com/h0x0d/status/996029444450996224

There’s no telling if this is an actual product or just a concept, but Windows Central reports that Microsoft could likely reveal this new controller at E3. Judging from the image, there are no details on how the accessibility controller will actually work, but you can see that it has some markings on the top with impressions for Xbox’s various buttons.

Other would be features include what could be an input (for a microphone?), a series of LED lights above the D-pad, and a USB port and headphone jack along the side of the controller. One can also assume that the giant A and B buttons will also be programmable to other functions, with the LED lights showing which mode the controller is running in.

If this holds up to be true, this will be yet another way for Microsoft to showcase how they’ve been working to make gaming and Xbox more inclusive for everyone. More will likely develop in the days ahead, so best to keep tuned for more.

HP today took the wraps off their 2018 Windows 10 Elitebooks, ENVY laptops, and a desktop with Amazon Alexa onboard. The devices all pack amazing features like excellent battery life, security, and everything you need for security and entertainment. Here’s what you need to know.

Elite Series

HP Elitebook x360 1030G3: June, starting at $1,449

The HP Elitebook x360 1030 G3 is being called the world’s smallest business convertible, coming in at just 2.76 pounds in weight and 15.8 mm in thinness. It features up to 18 hours of battery life, 4G LTE capabilities, and active pen support with proximity alert to notify when the pen is left behind.

HP Elite x2 1013 G3: June, starting at $1,499

This member of the Elite series packs a 13-inch display into a 12-inch chassis, which HP is calling the world’s smallest business detachable. It also is the first detachable to feature an integrated privacy screen. Other features on board include options for Intel Quad Core vPro Processors and 4G Cat9 LTE.

HP Elitebook 1050 G1: May, starting at $1,899

This ultra-slim notebook packs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics, for powerful performance and hexacore processing. There is the promise of up to 16 hours of battery life, and options for up to 4TB of SSD storage, an HP Privacy camera.

HP EliteOne 1000 All in One G2: June, starting at $1,279

HP’s EliteOne 1000 All in One G2 packs a 34-inch curved display and discrete graphics. The company promises that it is perfect for the front desk, and other office spaces or meetings rooms. The device also features a pop-up webcam, integrated collaboration keys, and audio and noise cancellation features— perfect for video conference calls.

ENVY Series

HP ENVY Curved AiO 34

HP is calling the HP ENVY Curved AiO 34 the world’s widest curved all-in-one. The device comes with Amazon Alexa on board and incorporates a dark ash woodgrain finish on the base and pale gold accents along the back of the device. It also comes with optional GeForce GTX 1050 discrete graphics.

HP ENVY 17 Laptop May, starting at $1,049.99

HP’s Envy 17 Laptop is a desktop replacement for the content creator. It packs the latest 8th Gen Intel Quad Core processors, discrete NVIDIA GeForce MX 150 graphics, and an optional 17-inch diagonal 4K display.

HP ENVY 13 Laptop: May, starting at $999.99

The HP Envy 13 laptop offers up an all-metal chassis in pale gold or natural silver colors. It also comes with the 8th generation Intel Quad Core processor, optional NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics, up to 14 hours of battery life. You’ll also find security features like a Fingerprint reader and HP Sure View.

HP ENVY X360: May, in 13-inch and 15-inch models

There are two models of the HP ENVY X360 to choose from, with the 13 inch model including the AMD Ryzen Processor with Radeon Vega Graphics22 and 11 hours of battery life. The 15-inch model comes with either Intel or AMD processors, an optional 4K display, and up to 12 hours and 45 minutes od battery life. The 15-inch model also supports HP Fast Charge, for 50 percent battery life in 45 mins.

The HP ENVY x360 13 is expected to be available in May at HP.com for a starting price of $759.99. And the HP ENVY x360 15 is expected to be available in May at HP.com for a starting price of $749.99 (AMD version) and $869.99 (Intel version).Also announced today is the HP EliteDisplay S14, the world’s first 14-inch USB Type-C portable display. Other announcements today include HP Audio Stream, which allows users to stream their favorite songs from their phone to the HP Envy AiO speakers via Bluetooth.

There’s also the HP ENVY Desktop ($799,) which comes packed with  8th Generation Intel Core multi-core processors, optional NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphics, and optional Intel Optane Memory for better system responsiveness. Definitely some exciting stuff, so be sure to let us know if you’re planning on buying any of these devices by dropping us a comment in the section below.

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.

Some Intel SSDs may crash when updating to the Windows 10 April 2018 Update

It is being reported that 2 Intel SSD models are experiencing issues after updating to the Windows 10 April 2018 Update. The issue causes the machine to crash and boot to a UEFI screen. Microsoft has confirmed the issue and says that it is working on ways to detect affected devices and block the update.

Microsoft launches replacement program for Surface Pro 4 devices impacted by screen flickering issue

Customers of Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4 who have been experiencing screen flickering issues can now have their device replaced, as Microsoft has launched a replacement program for affected devices. Reports of the issue began surfacing back in February.

Cortana is not going away, Microsoft exec says

Despite Microsoft teaming up with Amazon to bring Alexa integration to Windows 10, an executive at Microsoft says that the company is not getting rid of its own digital assistant, Cortana.

New in Windows 10 build 17666: A new clipboard experience, dark mode in File Explorer, and more

One of the latest Windows 10 builds has brought a new feature that may bring a sigh of relief to some users, a dark mode for the File Explorer. There were other changes in this build, too, such as a new clipboard experience, Sets improvements, and more.

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

In a bid that seems to take aim at there being too much feedback, Microsoft has taken the decision to close the original Xbox Feedback website, and instead launch a new one, called Xbox Ideas.

The premise of the site is the same, to submit ideas, and it is even hosted on the same platform – the sites are almost identical. The main difference is how Microsoft will manage the new site. Instead of users being able to submit any idea they want, and comment what they want, all ideas and comments will be reviewed before being published.

Additionally, the process of Microsoft looking into ideas is changing. The company now outlines the process they will use, which is as follows:

• Idea Drive Collection: we’ll gather your ideas about a specific feature or a topic for a set period
• Idea Drive Voting: after the Collection phase, you’ll have an opportunity to vote and comment
• Idea Drive Completion: Feature Teams will review the results of your voting, as well as your comments

Announcing the change on the old Xbox Feedback site, Microsoft says:

As of May, 2018 you will no longer be able to submit, comment, or vote on feedback appearing on the https://xbox.uservoice.com site.

Instead, start sharing your ideas and suggestions on the new https://xboxideas.uservoice.com. You can still find your feedback on the existing site, but this site will be shut down prior to the end of May 2018.

Why we made this change
We value fan feedback. Your suggestions are important in helping shape and deliver great gaming experiences. In order to get more timely feedback on specific gaming features or products, we are moving to a more dynamic and engaging site which will allow you to provide direct feedback on specific topics. We look forward to hearing your great ideas!

Feedback posted on the old website will not be migrated to the new one. Additionally, Xbox Ideas does not support logging-in with a Microsoft Account at this time.

Some see this as a welcome move, helping plug the hole that allowed ideas on almost everything to be submitted, while others see it as Microsoft not wanting to listen to user feedback, and instead regulating the feedback that goes public.

The new Xbox Ideas website can be found here.

Microsoft ended support for Windows XP a long time ago, but the nearly 17-year-old operating system still holds a special place in the hearts of many Microsoft fans. That brings us to wonder, what would Windows XP look like if it still was in development in 2018? Well, one YouTuber sets out to answer that question with a “Windows XP 2018 Edition” concept video.

As you can see, the video showcases a remastered Windows XP with many fluent and modern looking user interface elements. The login screen, power menu, and taskbar in this concept all get touches of modern Windows 10 elements blended with the classic Windows XP coloring.

Our personal favorite happens to be the reimagined Start Menu, which keeps the Windows XP style layout but adds modern live tiles alongside. Other cool elements of the video include a remasted mail app, File Explorer, and a Windows Timeline UI that is clearly inspired by Windows 10’s Fluent Design.

Even though it’s nothing but a concept. it is still safe to say this is a pretty cool video. Let us know in the comments about your favorite moment from this concept video.

Microsoft announced yesterday that it has enabled digital gifting for PC games on the Microsoft Store, just a couple of months after it did so for Xbox One games. Gifting a digital PC game is as simple as opening the Store listing, select “Buy a Gift” and entering the email address of the gift recipient

While you can gift all PC games and PC download game content available on the Microsoft store, there are some limitations to be aware off, such as the fact that digital gifting is currently region-locked. Another restriction concerns discounted games, as gift purchasers can only buy two discounted products – and a total of 10 discounted products – every 14 days.

It’s nice to see that PC games now get the same treatment as Xbox One games on the Microsoft Store, though it’s worth noting gifting of Xbox 360 and OG Xbox games is still not allowed. “We are hard at work on improving digital gifting, adding new capabilities as well as support for new content types,” the Xbox team said yesterday.