Xbox One’s Titanfall 2 gets 4-player co-op

In a new, free content update, Titanfall 2 has 4-player co-op mode on Xbox One. Titanfall 2: Operation Frontier Shield brings this new 4-player co-op mode, so now you can play with your friends locally or online on Xbox Live.

Operation Frontier Shield contains an all-new 4-player co-op survival mode, Frontier Defense, where you and your Titanfall team must protect a Harvester through multiple waves of enemy forces. You can build your team with the latest Titanfall and Pilot weaponry, gear, and upgrades to ensure victory. Here’s a look at the Operation Frontier Shield trailer.

Operation Frontier Shield brings new Frontier Titan Warpaints to showcase how much you’ve leveled-up in Frontier Defense matches and offer special XP boosts. For Frontier Pilots, there are also special Elite Weapon Warpaints. These Elite Weapon Warpaints offer special in-game bonuses to you and your team during your matches. For example, each Elite Weapon Warpaint you or your teammates own, offer a 10% greater chance you’ll earn a 2x XP token at the end of each match (max 30% total).

Lastly, Operation Frontier Shield includes a re-mastered map from the first Titanfall (Rise) and a new Live Fire map for Titanfall 2 (Township). Rise features sheer walls for Pilots to run along and plenty of zip lines to ride, and long, expansive hallways for Titans to fight.

Microsoft, Titanfall 2, Xbox

The new Titanfall 2 Live Fire map, Township, offers no place for your Titan to hide with the close-quarters combat atmosphere of a small town.

Microsoft, Titanfall, Xbox

This is a free content pack for Titanfall 2, download Operation Frontier Shield now on Xbox One and Windows 10.

First Xbox Live Creators Program titles now available for Xbox Alpha Insiders

Back at the Games Developer Conference, Microsoft announced the Xbox Live Creators Program, which will allows any independent developer to integrate Xbox Live into their game and publish to Xbox One and Windows 10 without the need for concept approval. Now that a few months have passed since the initial announcement, the first set of these titles has become available on the Xbox One for Xbox Alpha Insiders (via Windows Central.)

At the moment,  only six titles are available for Xbox Alpha Insiders to download via an “Insider content” section of the Insider Hub app. Three of the titles are paid, and three titles are free. Of course, given the fact that these are work in progress titles from independent developers, you can expect to experience glitches and other issues while playing. You can see the titles in the list below.

  • Whispers in the Dark
  • Stereo Aereo
  • Animal Rivals
  • Derelict Fleet
  • Space Cat!
  • Solitaire HD

Again, due to the nature of the limits set forth by the Xbox Live Creators Program, these titles will not have features such as Xbox Live Multiplayer or Xbox Live Achievements. As Chris Charla, director of ID@Xbox explained at GDC, developers in the program do still have the option of taking things further and gain access to these features by joining the ID@Xbox program after their game ships.

If you’re eager to try out these new games, you can check out this website for directions on how to join the Xbox Insider Program. And, if you’re a developer who would like to have your games published on Xbox and Windows 10, you can head here to learn more about the Xbox Live Creators Program.

Slow Ring Office Insiders on Windows 10 get a new build, brings support for 3D models in Excel, Word, more

Slow Ring Office Insiders on Windows 10 PCs are receiving a big update this week, bringing a lot of new features to the Office suite of applications. The update bumps the latest Slow Ring Office version number to 1707, build 8326, and brings support for 3D models in Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook (via Neowin.)

Leading off the list of new features is the ability to use 3D models in Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Outlook. The Office team notes that this feature you can “Easily insert a 3D model, and then rotate it through 360 degrees” and “Bring 3D models to life in PowerPoint presentations with the Morph transition.” Next up, Excel receives support for Collaborative editing, which allows you to work with others at the same time in your notebook. Interestingly, the Office team also highlights that changes during collaborative work are now autosaved to the cloud, so you can “see others’ updates in seconds.”

There are many other changes and enhancements which are a part of this build. You can see a small preview of these changes by reading below.

  • Designer transforms more types of slides (PowerPoint:) Designer now recommends design ideas for timelines presented as bulleted lists.
  • See what’s changed (PowerPoint:) Slides that have been modified by other users are highlighted
  • While you were away (PowerPoint:) Changes made by others to your worksheets or presentations since your last visit are highlighted.
  • A smarter To: line (Outlook:) When you click the To: line to address a message, we suggest recipients you’re likely to choose. Plus, you can see their picture so you know you’re sending to the right person.
  • Math equations (Outlook:) You can now create and edit math equations using LaTeX syntax.
  • Cloud attachments just got better (Outlook:) Now, when you save or drag and drop OneDrive attachments to your computer, we download the file for you.
  • Editing a new item is more accessible (Access) Use a quick shortcut (Ctrl+E) to edit a new item from a Combo Box or List Box.

If you’re not already an Office Insider on Windows 10, you can opt in by going to the file menu, selecting account, click on the Office Insider tile, and then select “get early access to new releases of Office.” You can then visit the Additional Install Options page of My Account, and then choose Insider Fast or Insider Slow from Version menu, and press Install.

Lenovo launches its new range of future-ready laptops in India

In a press event in New Delhi today, Lenovo unveiled its latest collection of future-ready laptops for India. The new range consists of ultra-sleek laptops and convertibles that offer powerful computing to today’s millennials.

According to Rajesh Thadani, Executive Director – Consumer Business and Ecommerce, Lenovo India, the new ‘clutter-breaking, future-ready products’ boast of category-first features at mainstream pricing. The portfolio offers features like AC 2*2 Wi-Fi connectivity, Type-C USB ports, and immersive audio that aren’t mainstream on even premium notebooks in the market.

Lenovo Yoga 720 and Yoga 520

The Yoga 720 and Yoga 520 are the company’s premium convertibles that offer a mix of style and performance. Both convertibles come with NVIDIA graphics, Full HD display, as well as a fingerprint reader.

With up to 7th Genaration Intel Core i7 processor, the Lenovo Yoga 720 sports a sleek finish and aluminum design and weighs only 1.25 kgs with just 19 mm thickness. The Lenovo Yoga 520 is another addition to the Yoga line-up with up to 128G PCIe SSD + 1TB SATA HDD hybrid storage. The Yoga 720 packs in JBL Speakers and Dolby Audio Premium while the Yoga 520 sports Harman Speakers.

The two devices offer great Windows Inking experience with the optional Lenovo Active Pen that provides a natural, intuitive pen experience with pin-point accuracy, palm-rejection technology, and pressure sensitivity.

The Yoga 720 is priced at ₹74,500 while the Yoga 520 is priced at ₹39,600.

Lenovo Ideapad 720S, 520S, 320S

These ultra-thin and light powerhouses come with a backlit keyboard, up to 8 hours of video playback battery life, JBL Speakers with Dolby Atmos, and with a starting weight of just 1.12kgs.

The Ideapad 720S is priced at ₹74,850, the Ideapad 520S priced at ₹47,450, while the Ideapad 320S is priced at ₹34,750.

Lenovo Ideapad 520 and 320

The devices are positioned as multimedia entertainment devices and offer top-of-the-line processing and advanced graphics up to NVIDIA GeForce 940MX. The Ideapad 320 has Dolby Audio-optimized speakers while the Ideapad 520 features Harman Speakers with Dolby Audio.

The Ideapad 520 is priced at ₹42,400 while the Ideapad 320 is priced ₹17,800

8 easy tips to improve mouse battery life

The world has moved on from wired to wireless and the same holds good for keyboard and mouse. More than often these peripherals suffer from short battery life and it’s partly our fault that it happens. Well, no one wants to run out of mouse battery juice during work and it is for this reason, we will guide you on how to improve the battery life of a wireless mouse and the keyboard.

1.Switch off the Wireless Mouse/Keyboard when not in use

Well, even I have been guilty of not switching off my mouse while not using the same. Every model of the mouse will come with a toggle switch underneath which can be used to switch off the mouse. If you suffer from absent mindedness as I do, here is another solution that is sure to help you. Even if your mouse goes into sleep mode it will wake up once moment is detected so whenever you think of putting it inside your bag just toggle the switch off.

As suggested by Labnol you can simply change the default “System Shutdown” and “System Logoff” sounds to an automated voice message that reminds you to turn off the mouse. In order to set the reminder open Control Panel>Change System Sound. Choose “Exit Windows” and then direct it to the .wav files that you want to use. Repeat the same steps for “Windows Logoff” event and this way you will always be reminded to turn off wireless mouse and remote.

2.Use mouse of surface with light color shade

Wireless mouse works pretty well on glossy surfaces including granite table and glass tops, however, surfaces like this cause the tracking sensor to zap more power and thus have a negative effect on the battery life. It is always recommended using a light colored mouse pad with the wireless mouse.

3. Type of Batteries

Try your best to use Alkaline batteries, not only do they last longer but also generate sufficient voltage for your mouse to work. It is also suggested that you don’t mix up the brands or the type of batteries. Also, ensure that the batteries don’t leak, usually Alkaline doesn’t leak but it’s always better to make sure.

4.Proximity with the receiver

Believe it or not, the further your mouse is away from the nano receiver the more power it needs. Nano receiver is the small receiver that we get along with the wireless mouse and plug it into the USB port. Also, ensure that the nano receiver and the mouse are both on the same level.

Also Read: Best tools to extend Windows 10 battery life

5. Use Group Policy Editor to set a reminder

If you are a Pro user and know your way around Windows Group Policy Editor you can set an alert that reminds you to switch off the mouse every time you shut down the machine. That being said the steps required for this is pretty complex.

6.Use Keyboard Shortcuts

Eureka! One of the best ways to save the wireless mouse battery is to use the Keyboard shortcuts instead of the mouse. One needs to realise that every time you move the mouse the laser sensor consumes energy and thus by using keyboard shortcuts, you will be reducing the load on the wireless mouse.

7.Buy Mouse from Good Brands

Well, this is more of a personal observation, at times when I had opted for cheap wireless mouse the battery life hasn’t been that impressive. However with regular brands like Dell or HP, the battery life was way better, I personally feel that one should invest in a branded mouse rather than opting for a cheap one.

8. Avoid interference from other electrical devices

Metal surfaces and other electrical devices, especially wireless ones tend to cause interference. If you have a pile of wireless device lying around stash it away from the mouse. It is also advisable to move other electronic devices away so as to avoid further intereference and enhance mouse battery life.

Dungeon Defenders 2 gets another massive update on Xbox One

Dungeon Defenders launched a few weeks ago, and received a fairly positive response from its player base. Several small patches have come out in the meantime to help “put out the fires” server-side and fix up a few things, but the game is getting ready for its first significant content patch.

The patch, being labeled Patch 1.0.3, comes with a free item bundle as well as some brand new content. The free item bundle will include a bunch of defender medals, a new pet, and some new accessories for your characters. The update will end up getting some new maps, as well as plenty of balance changes and new UI elements that should help clarify some gameplay nuances.

You’ll only be able to get your free item bundle for a little while after the patch comes out, as it’s a reward for people who stuck by the team during a hectic launch week. Be sure to log in soon to get your free stuff!

Windows Insider PM posts “Guide to RS3,” a compilation of Fall Creators Update features

Alright, are you ready to read? Like, a lot? Because we have access to a pretty massive amount of new features coming in the Fall Creators Update, and we’ve finally got a list where they’re all compiled. Usually for something like this we’d copy-paste the changelog, but we’re actually looking at a 51 page document here.

Here’s a list of some of the highlights, for those who want a taste:

  • Copy and Ask Cortana
  • Updated emojis
  • Enhanced text prediction
  • Shape writing
  • Scrolling with pen
  • Improved game settings
  • Revert VM
  • Braille/Narrator improvements

This is a helpful resource for people who install the Fall update and aren’t quite sure what they just put into their computer. While so much of this consists of little things, it amounts to a significant update full of meaningful accessibility updates, and a better quality-of-life overall for so many different nooks and crannies of Windows 10 as a whole.

 

Here are the best Fidget Spinner apps for Windows 10 PC/ Mobile

Every year, a few of trends will completely dominate the internet but also jump into the physical world. While everyone knew that something was going to mark 2017 in one way or another, no one was prepared for the Fidget Spinner. For those who somehow managed to completely remain oblivious of this trend, Fidget Spinners are little devices that are marketed as stress removers. These spinners will offer a really cool visual effect when their three arms start spinning.

The Fidget Spinner community has come a long way since the first iteration of the product hit the market. Now, people are putting their Fidget Spinning skills up to the test and that means performing all kinds of tricks from the harmless variety all the way to the pretty dangerous type.

Do you think you look great spinning a Fidget Spinner? How about spinning two at once? What about three, and one on your nose? You can find all kinds of challenges on YouTube from people who really push the capabilities of these little stress spinners to the limit. While you might think that you’ve seen everything there is to see, you can still be surprised by some of the things that people think of.

Just like any other trend, there’s no telling when it will die down but for the time being it seems like Fidget Spinners are here to stay. And just as you might have expected, Fidget Spinners follow the philosophy of this technological era we find ourselves in, and now “there’s an app for that”. Yes, there are apps that specifically catered to the needs of Fidget Spinner aficionados.

These apps offer various Fidget Spinner experiences and if you’re really into Fidget Spinners, you will probably enjoy these apps more than you might want to admit it. That being said, check out these top Fidget Spinner apps and see if any of them is what you are looking for to round up your Fidget Spinner collection and credentials.

The best virtual Fidget Spinners

Fidget Spinner by Real Gamers Inc.

This is the first great Fidget Spinner app for Windows and it comes with a nice little interface that’s pleasing for users to look at while they go about their spinning. The background image is straight out of Minecraft, so for those who also love or play that game, it’s an added bonus.

Other than the pretty nice background, this app provides a spin counter which lets you track just how many spins you managed to squeeze in. That’s a cool little feature which you can use to turn the app into a 2017 version of Flappy Bird. Of course, it would be without all the raging and pretty much the opposite sine Fidget Spinners are about relaxing and de-stressing, while Flappy Bird loves to get its players mad.

How the game works

In this app, you have a total of 5 swipes which you can use almost like you would at a carnival attraction or fortune wheel. You need to get your best spin in and collect the rewards that drop when you do good. You have 5 swipes because you are going to need more than one try to get in your best swipe. You need to make use of all your swipes however if you want to have great results.

The app has a collection of Fidget Spinners that you can unlock. In order to unlock them, you have to keep playing and eventually, you will be able to unlock them all. It’s a bit of work to be put in, but it’s definitely great that you can unlock them all without paying.

Speaking of paying, the app itself is free which means that anyone interested can download it and try it out.


Fidget Spinner UWP by HutApps

Those who don’t want to risk their money on an app that they don’t like shouldn’t have to worry about this one. The app is free and it is available to anyone who wants to give it a try. That makes it great because at the very least you could try it out and see how you enjoy it. If you come to the conclusion that it’s not for you, there’s nothing stopping you from uninstalling it right away.

It gets competitive

If you’re the competitive type, you might enjoy this app because it brings in the social element which allows you to compete with your friends and see just who has the best Fidget Spinner score. Whether you’re a sore loser or a proud winner, you will be able to experience all these things with this Fidget Spinner app thanks to the way in which you can compare your results.

It’s all about getting in the best spin possible. To do this, the app gives you access to no less than 5 tries, or spins. Each time you spin, you have to aim for the biggest score so that you can get the best rewards. Yes, unlike the physical version of a Fidget Spinner, the digital version will offer rewards for great performance and that’s what draw more people to trying the app out.

Not only can you make history in the leader boards, but you can also use the resources you win from Fidget Spinning to upgrade your Spinner and do even better the next time you’re going to spin it. It’s not just about upgrading your current Spinner but also about unlocking new ones. The joy of getting a fresh Fidget Spinner is enough for many to spend hours on this app and try to get the best possible score.


Super Fidget Spinner Battle by Unit M Limited

Designed for mobile devices, this game offers a completely new experience that most Fidget Spinner enthusiasts might not be familiar with. However, there might be a firm number of Fidget Spinner lovers that actually get a familiar vibe from this game, but more on that in a little bit.

The multiplayer experience

This app can be used to kill time in single player, just like the others, but it also features a multiplayer component that is like nothing else on the market. Revolutionizing how people view Fidget Spinners, it’s actually not an entirely new concept. The kids from the 90’s and 2000’s might remember the Beyblade.  That’s what this is practical, although in digital form. Still, if you want to go down memory lane, this app is the perfect vehicle to get you there.

Aside from the pleasant memories, this app is actually a great time killer in both single player and multiplayer. If you feel competitive, you can take it up against your friends. If you share a love for Fidget Spinners, you can settle it once and for all, who the best Fidgeter is in your friend group.

A lot of choices

In this app you get not only to impress your friends with your Fidget Spinner skills but also with the variety of Spinners that you have unlocked and collected in the app. Similar to other options on the list, this app allows you to choose from a varied list of Fidget Spinners, which means that you will be able to customize your experience and put your personal touch or twist on the Fidget Spinner which will be representing you online or that will please your eyes when you’re just lazy on the couch, spinning away.

Available for the Windows Mobile platform, the app opens its doors to a lot of users on Microsoft’s mobile platform. So if you want to start spinning today, you can already go download it from the official store.


Fidget Spinner + BY Match 3 Fun Games

Fidget Spinner + is another solid solution for those that want to bring their Fidget Spinner obsession into the digital world. With this app, users can enjoy all the benefits of using a Fidget Spinner without actually having to own one. So if you didn’t get around to buying a Fidget Spinner, you might not even want to buy one anymore. If you usually need a bit of stress relief at your computer or during your office hours, you could easily just use this Windows app instead.

With the help of Fidget Spinner +, users get to de-stress and to calm down when they’re having a bad day or even just preemptive, to make sure that stress doesn’t get to them in the first place. When you’re under a lot of pressure, it’s really easy to just lose your temper and say and do things you normally wouldn’t and you end up regretting.

Having a trusty Fidget Spinner app on your computer which can get you out of a tight spot when stress is at its highest can be a really valuable tool to hold on to. Just make sure that you actually get some work done and don’t just spend all your time at the office using the Fidget Spinner app instead.


Fidget Spinner – Fun Spinner Action by UAB Tag of Joy

If the title of this app is any indication, you know what to expect from the Windows compatible game which promises a lot of excitement and the authentic Fidget Spinner experience.  Just like the rest of apps presented in this top, you can use Fidget Spinner – Fun Spinner Action to get a great Fidget Spinner session going while you’re waiting in the doctor’s waiting room or while you’re in a meeting that isn’t all that productive.

Are you obsessed with collecting Fidget Spinners in real life? That can be quite an expensive hobby but luckily you have a digital alternative which can help you save a pretty penny by not buying every Fidget Spinner under the sun. With the digital mobile app, you are able to unlock numerous variations of Fidget Spinners. Once they are unlocked, they are part of your collection and you can use them as you wish.

This game tests your limits as it’s not as easy as some might think when it comes to advancing further. If you want to advance in levels you will have to give it your all and actually be good at Fidget Spinning. If you’re the kind that doesn’t back off from a fight, you will be happy to know that you will definitely have a challenge on your hands with Fidget Spinner – Fun Spinner Action.


Covfefe Spinner by Sinime

The name of this app pretty much speaks for itself and users that give it a try definitely have to expect interesting things. When an app bears evident inspiration for a tweet coming from the US President, there’s no doubt about the fact that the app is of immense value and is one of the best apps of its kind in the store, right?

Nevertheless, users should no doubt give Covfefe Spinner a try if they need more covfefe in their lives or if they feel like covfefe has been absent as of late from their regular lifestyles. With even more covfefe added to the original product, Covfefe Spinner by Sinime brings to the table everything that people know and love about covfefe.

It’s definitely a different app when you put it side by side with the others, especially since it has a pretty interesting design which doesn’t limit itself to the traditional Fidget Spinner shapes or standards. Users are able to enjoy all kinds of Fidget Spinner models in this app, ranging from TRON like Fidget Spinners to the most extravagant of options, like Minecraft inspired Fidget Spinners.


Final words about these great Fidget Spinner apps for Windows

So there you have it folks, these are the best Fidget Spinner apps available for Windows at this time. If you’re looking for a cheap thrill to get you through your daily commute or a much deeper experience which will last you until you get bored, you can definitely bet on one of these Fidget Spinner solutions to get you through the day and to provide quality entertainment.

It’s not just about entertainment, however, as these Fidget Spinner apps also have the great property of relieving stress. That was to be expected since after all, we’re talking about Fidget Spinner apps. Fidget Spinners, in their original, physical version, were introduced and promoted as stress relieving toys, making it the perfect opportunity for app developers to bring that kind of experience into the digital spectrum.

There are of course more platforms out there, but if Windows is your platform of choice, you can at least be certain of the fact that you will have access to the Fidget Spinner apps present in this top.

RELATED STORIES TO CHECK OUT:

Costume Quest 2, Frontlines: Fuel of War, two other titles added to Xbox One Backward Compatibility catalog

Microsoft today added Costume Quest 2, Frontlines: Fuel of War and two other titles to the Xbox One Backward Compatibility catalog (via Neowin.) As always, you can learn more about these titles by checking the links, trailers, and descriptions below.

Costume Quest 2 :$14.99

Trick, treat and pick a fight with villainous dental soldiers in Costume Quest 2, the sweet sequel to Double Fine’s hit original, Costume Quest, that turned fans of all ages into candy obsessed crusaders. This inspired RPG adventure includes a range of new features and gameplay improvements to double the amount of mischievous fun. Explore spooky time-traversing landscapes, don adorable new costumes that transform into powerful Hallo-warriors, and collect even Creepier Treat Cards to wield in combat against a legion of hygiene obsessed baddies. Only heroic siblings Wren and Reynold can save Halloween forever!

Frontlines: Fuel of War: $14.99

Frontlines: Fuel of War is a military-themed infantry and vehicle based, open-world first person shooter. The newly formed Red Star Alliance, led by Russia and China, clash with Western Coalition (U.S. & the European Union) forces over increasing energy shortages. This sets the stage for a massive conventional apocalypse pitting the biggest military powers against each other as they try to defend their interests and support their collapsing economies.

 Quantum Conundrum: $9.99

When you arrive to visit your uncle, you notice something’s wrong. He’s not there to greet you and there was an explosion just as you arrived. Rescue your uncle using his newest invention, the Interdimensional Shift Device. Shift between five different dimensions in real time and work your way through his crazy complex mansion!

Virtua Fighter 2: $4.99

Go back to the roots of 3-D fighting with Virtua Fighter 2, the second title in AM2’s flagship fighting franchise. Experience the legendary polygon-based 3-D graphics and fluid fighting mechanics that made the game so influential in the arcades, and later on the Sega Saturn. With all-new online play you can battle friends throughout the world. Features include: True to its arcade form with all-new online modes All 10 original characters and arenas Online versus mode for head-to-head matches Online Room match mode for up to 6 players.

The addition of these titles brings the total list of Xbox One Backward Compatible titles to 399. Last week we saw the additions of F1 2014, Earth Defense Force: IA, and Super Street Fighter IV.

What are ‘Apps for websites’ in Windows 10?

If you’ve looked through Windows 10’s Settings app lately, you may have noticed a category called “Apps for websites.” The chances are there won’t be many – if any – apps listed there and you might never have seen the feature in action. Apps for Websites is actually a useful but relatively unknown Windows 10 capability introduced with the Anniversary Update.

Screenshot of Windows 10 Apps for Websites

Apps for Website’s Settings page explains the functionality as “Some websites can be opened by an app or a browser.” This isn’t the clearest description and it doesn’t really provide the whole story. Apps for Websites is a feature developers can use to associate their app with their website. The operating system can then divert you to the app, assumed to be a richer experience, if you visit the website or web app in a browser.

By default, the Apps for Websites page will be empty if you’ve never used an app that supports it. To try the feature out, install and launch an app such as Groove Music or Microsoft To-Do. It should appear in the list with the website address it’s assigned to.

Screenshot of Apps for Websites prompt in Edge

For Groove Music, you can see it’s linked to “mediaredirect.microsoft.com,” the domain used to serve Groove’s online music pages. This association lets you open an album, artist or song in Groove when you’re browsing the app’s music catalogue online. Similarly, To-Do’s link to “to-do.microsoft.com” means the To-Do app will open when you land on the website homepage.

To see this in action, head to one of the websites in your favourite browser. You’ll see a prompt appear asking for permission to switch from your browser to the website’s associated app. Because the connection is managed by Windows – rather than the app or the website itself – this will work with any modern web browser. The look and feel of the prompt will vary between browsers but should give you the choice of launching the app or continuing to browse online.

Screenshot of Apps for Websites prompt in Chrome

Apps for Websites is a Windows 10 convenience feature that’s meant to make it easier to access rich experiences on your PC. In general, native apps remain more feature-complete than their web-based counterparts. Apps for Websites simplifies switching to the fully-fledged Windows app when you’re already browsing online. You can disable the feature for each supported app using the toggle buttons on the Apps for Websites Settings page.

Unfortunately, Apps on Websites suffers from the same issue as many other Windows 10 UWP features: app support is lacking. We’re aware of only a handful of third-party apps that use Apps for Websites. Of Microsoft’s own line-up, just Groove and To-Do have website associations. There’s several conspicuously absent links, such as Outlook.com and the Windows 10 Mail app, MSN and News, Xbox.com and Xbox and the Skype website and app.

Take note Skype: Facebook Messenger style Chat heads in the Xbox Android app are awesome

Microsoft has always been making it easier for you to keep in touch with those you care about most. We’ve seen the company roll out a “My People” feature for Windows Insiders which allows them to pin people to the taskbar, and view multiple communication apps together as one. Well, the company recently rolled out an update for the Xbox App on Android, bringing a “Chat Bubbles” functionality that allows you to use your mobile games and apps while keeping your Xbox conversations within reach. Here is a hands on look at the experience, and what you can expect once you have updated.

The “Chat Bubbles” feature was first noted by Major Nelson in the announcement post for a recent Xbox System update. On the surface, the feature is very similar in functionality to Facebook’s Chat head functionality for Messenger. The feature is on by default in the Xbox App, as when you’re signed into the Xbox app, and you receive a message from your friend, a small notification bubble with the person’s gamer pic or Xbox live avatar will pop up from the side of your screen.

The “Chat Bubbles” on Android Xbox app

You can drag the chat bubble to any side of the screen along the top, bottom, or left and right, but you can’t drag it to the center, presumably so you won’t cover up app icons.  As you drag the bubble, it will follow you and stay on top of whatever app you have open, in our case the Twitter app. Pressing on the bubble will then open the message which was sent to you. After you respond, you can press the Xbox button to see all of your messages, or you can press again on the bubble to close it and drag it to the bottom to permanently remove it.

Interestingly, Xbox’s Chat Bubbles work alongside Facebook’s Chat Heads feature. Both bubbles will show up whenever you get a message, and they both can be dragged around the screen. Facebook’s Chat heads, though, will show you a preview of your message and has a count for how many messages you have received. The Xbox Chat Bubbles rather just shows you a small message icon next to the bubble for when there is an unread message.

Chat Bubbles next to Chat Bubbles next to Facebook's Chat HeadsFacebook's Chat Heads
Chat Bubbles next to Facebook’s Chat Heads

This feature is very welcoming, and it indeed does make it easier to access Xbox messages while using other apps on an Android phone. It does, however, remain questionable as to why Microsoft choose to include this in the Xbox app, and not the Skype app for Android. Perhaps the company is just testing to see if users will use “Chat Bubbles,” and may indeed bring the feature to Skype, but for now, one can only hope that the Skype team takes note, and rolls out a similar functionality in the near feature.

Microsoft’s Azure to power Baidu self driving car project in new partnership

Over the past few months, several car manufacturers such as BMW, Toyota, Renault-Nissan and Volvo have partnered with Microsoft to leverage the company’s cloud technology for their connected vehicle solutions. Today, the Redmond giant is announcing a new partnership with Chinese technology giant Baidu, which launched the Apollo open autonomous driving project earlier this year.

If Baidu has already snagged more than 50 different partners including TomTom, Continental and Asian transportation app Grab for its autonomous driving platform, Microsoft will now be able to provide its Azure cloud technology to Apollo partners operating outside of China. “By using Azure, our partners outside of China will have access to a trustworthy and secure public cloud, enabling them to focus on innovating instead of building their own cloud-based infrastructure,” said president of Baidu Ya-Qin Zhang in statement.

“We’re excited to partner with Baidu to take a giant step in helping automotive manufacturers and suppliers fully realize the promise of autonomous driving,” shared Microsoft Corporate Vice President Kevin Dallas. “Today’s vehicles already have an impressive level of sophistication when it comes to their ability to capture data. By applying our global cloud AI, machine learning, and deep neural network capabilities to that data, we can accelerate the work already being done to make autonomous vehicles safer,” he added.

First of two Windows Insiders Bug Bash webcasts coming up today on Mixer

Coming after the release of Windows 10 Insider Preview build 16241 for PC, Microsoft today is promoting the first of two Windows Insider bug bash webcasts. The first webcast is starting today at 1:30 PM PDT, and can be seen here on the Mixer page for Windows Insiders.

You can convert the time into your local time zone by clicking here, but Microsoft is also saying that the entire stream will be available as video on demand after it has ended.  The second webcast, meanwhile, will be at 10:00 AM this Friday, July 21st, and you can convert that into your time zone by checking here.

Microsoft previously ran Bug Bash webcasts in February and in May of this year, so now is the perfect chance to tune in and interact with the Windows Insider team if you missed the last two opportunities. The final bug bash for the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update is also running throughout this week, and up until Sunday, July 23rd. So, be sure to keep your feedback coming to Microsoft!

Xbox app updates on iOS and Android with cool new features

Along with the major Xbox One OS update last week, both of the Xbox iOS and Android apps have also updated with support for new features and added functionality.

  • Both versions of the app can now do the following:
  • Share Looking-For-Group requests via a message or post to the Activity Feed
  • Browser available games in Xbox Game Pass for those who are paid subscribers
  • More flexibility and functionality when the mobile device or app is set to a different region than the Xbox One console (Users can now purchase games on the app for the console’s set region)

In addition to these changes, the Android version of the Xbox app will also get a new feature called Chat Bubbles. “This overlay experience lets you use your mobile games and apps while keeping your Xbox conversations within reach,” Microsoft’s Larry Hyrb explains. “When you get a new message, a chat bubble will open automatically for that conversation – this works for messages as well as club chat. You can also open this view by navigating to the conversation menu options.”

Do you like using the Android and iOS Xbox apps? Do you like these updates? Let us know in the comments below.

Xbox
Xbox
Price:
Free


‎Xbox
‎Xbox
Price:
Free

LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean now free on Xbox 360 & Xbox One

LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean is now free to download on the Xbox 360 and Xbox One consoles for Xbox Live Gold subscribers. The game originally came out on the Xbox 360 but is playable on the Xbox One due to the newer console’s backwards compatibility feature. It contains characters and storylines from the first four Pirates of the Caribbean films, making it a pretty good bang for your buck. Here’s the full game description:

An action adventure game that brings to life the Pirates of the Caribbean world and all its colorful characters in LEGO brick form.  Players will experience all the memorable scenes from the first three films, as well as those in the upcoming fourth film, “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” in the humorous and quirky LEGO video games style.

Grab LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean on Xbox 360 & Xbox One

Have you played LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean yet? Let us know if you like the LEGO games in the comments below.

Runbow out now on Xbox One, features 8 player local co-op

Runbow is now available to buy and play on the Xbox One and is currently free for Xbox Live Gold subscribers until August 15th. The game is a platformer but features a variety of different modes to play and impressively supports up to eight players at once on the same screen in local multiplayer and nine when playing online. Here’s the official description and trailer:

Get Ready to Runbow! Runbow is a fast-paced action party game for up to 8 players locally and 9 players online. Platforms and obstacles appear and disappear with each swipe of the background color, so if you can’t see something, IT DOESN’T EXIST! Players can go head-to-head in Run, Arena, and King of The Hill, or hone their skills on their own in Adventure or The Bowhemoth.

Buy Runbow on Xbox One

Have you played Runbow yet? Let us know what you think of it in the comments below.

Xbox One’s best Kinect game, Dance Central Spotlight, now 50% off

As part of the weekly Xbox One and Xbox 360 Deals With Gold campaign, the popular Dance Central Spotlight is now available to buy at half price while several related downloadable content (DLC) bundles have had their prices reduced by 20%.

Dance Central Spotlight is arguably one of, of not the, best video games on the Xbox One which relies on the Kinect sensor. Unlike similar dance games such as Just Dance which are overly generous with their scoring and act more like music videos which the player must imitate, Dance Central Spotlight actually teaches players the individual moves in a routine and allows for the slowing down and practicing of any move at any time during a song. The game also offers eight different routines for each song of varying difficulty levels from complete beginner up to professional dancer and also provides some in a completely different dance style.

The base game of Dance Central Spotlight comes with 10 songs (with 8 routines each) and additional songs can be purchased. Also, a lot of the purchased DLC from previous Dance Central games on the Xbox 360 carry over if the same account is used.

The following songs and packs are now 20% off: Justin Bieber Dance Pack 01, LMFAO Dance Pack 01, Pitbull Dance Pack 01, “Can’t Hold Us” – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, “Chandelier” – Sia, “Raise Your Glass” – P!nk, and “Safe and Sound” – Capital Cities. Grab the main Dance Central Spotlight game here.

Are you a fan of Dance Central Spotlight? Let us know in the comments below. What’s your favorite song to dance to?

Microsoft Surface Pro performance suffers due to throttling issues

Microsoft’s Surface Lineup is often touted as one of the best performing Windows machines out in the market. In fact, the latest Surface Pro series is promising 50 percent more performance as opposed to its predecessor. However, independent tests seem to differ. The folks at Notebookcheck ran the Surface Pro through a number of benchmark tests as they would with any other laptop and the results were contrary to our beliefs.

 

The independent test was first conducted on the Surface Pro 2017 Core i5-7300U SKU and this is the midrange configuration in the Surface Pro lineup. The looped CineBench R15 Multi-Thread test scores demonstrated how the CPU performance fell all the from 334 at the start to 226 at the end, this literally translates to nearly 33-percent drop.

 

Nearly all the laptops using Intel U-Class SPU’s employ active cooling system, however, Microsoft has decided to ditch a system fan on the Core i5-7300U. Due to this omission, the Turbo Boost performance can be drastically limited and the high clock rates will also be throttled once the temperature threshold is reached. The clock rates are throttled to 2.3GHz as soon as the CPU temperature reaches 57 C. This is a fail safe mechanism that ensures safe operating temperature for any laptop.

 

 

Well, one might argue that the mid range i5 powered Surface Pro is not meant to handle the tasks thrown at it with consistency and maybe the top of the line i7 would fare better. The Surface Pro 2017 Core i7-7600U also showed similar traits in the CineBench R15 Multi-Thread test. As the CPU neared the 7th or 8th loop the scores dropped from 410 to 340. Strangely enough, the 340 score is something that one would expect on a Core i5 rather than a top spec Core i7.

The takeaway from the benchmark test is that Microsoft’s decision to ditch the fan on the Surface Pro has a detrimental effect on its performance. Yes, the performance is up to the mark during the first few seconds but it soon tanks off due to the throttling. The performance stats are not simply up to the mark and definitely not what one would expect from a U-class processor.

Windows 10 KB4025342 bugs: Slow boot up, Edge shuts down, and more

The Windows 10 version 1703 cumulative update brings a bevy of fixes and improvements that make the OS more stable and reliable. At the same time, update KB4025342 also brings issues of its own.

Windows 10 KB4025342 reported bugs

KB4025342 won’t install

Many Creators Update users can’t install KB4025342. Oftentimes, the install process fails on restart or get stuck in an install loop.

Download KB4025342 for windows 10 version 1703 failed many times. Tried trouble shooter and loading update from catalogue. Nothing worked.  Help

Long boot up times

If your PC needs about 10 minutes to boot up after installing this update, you’re not he only one:

Installed update KB4025342 automatically through Windows Update on July 12. Noticed extremely long boot up times of the order of 10 mins for a laptop that normally gets to desktop in under 1 min. Repeatedly happened over several shut downs and boot ups. So I uninstalled the update and PC is back to normal. 

Microsoft Edge randomly shuts down

Windows 10 users also report that Edge randomly flickers and then closes. It seems this issue only affects Microsoft Edge as other browsers work fine.

When launching Edge it flickers then shuts down automatically […]. I have also tried removing both update but then when rebooting it re-installed automatically – I had no success with any of the above, HELP

Windows 10 fails to detect connected devices

After updating to KB4025342 my network no longer shows the correct attached devives under windows explorer network. The masterbrowser shows the network devices but subsidiary computers on the network show nothing.

It appears the only way to fix this problem is to uninstall the update.

Windows Store won’t install or update apps

I have a notebook with 32 GB SSD running Win10 creators update. Installing or updating any apps and games to Sdcard was working perfectly for 7 months until Windows installed KB4025342 update. Store fails to install or update apps on sdcard with an error code (0x8007000b). […] The only way to fix is uninstall KB4025342 update from your PC

These are the most frequent bugs reported by users after installing KB4025342. Have you encountered other issues after installing this update? Let us know in the comments below!

RELATED STORIES YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT:

Windows 10 build 16241 bugs: install fails, Action Center won’t respond, and more

Windows 10 build 16241 brings a series of new features and improvements to the table, including Windows Shell improvements, PC gaming and Task Manager improvements, Mixed Reality fixes, and more.

As expected, build 16241 also brings issues of its own. In this article, we’re going to list the most common build 16241 bugs reported by Insiders, as well as their corresponding workarounds whenever available.

Windows 10 build 16241 reported issues

Install issues

Many Insiders are still struggling to install build 16241 on their devices. The install process often gets stuck, freezes or fails with various error codes.

Updates downloaded the 16241 build and I restarted the machine, went into the update process and has been stuck on 33% for the last 6 hours. Never had this happen before.

Action Center won’t respond to mouse clicks

Insiders report that Action Center is unresponsive on the Surface Pro 4 due to scaling issues. More specifically, Action Center detects the wrong mouse pointer coordinates. As a quick workaround, you can change the DPI scaling values and see which values work best for you.

When I point at a spot in action center […], the Action Center actually behaves as if my mouse pointer is about half the screen height further down below […].

If I set my Surface Pro 4 to 100% DPI scaling instead of 200%, the action center works fine. And sometimes it will be okay even after putting it back to 200% (which is default and really the only way to read the screen for me).  But something in this build with DPI scaling has seriously jacked up mouse tracking.

Apps won’t work properly

Insiders report that many apps fail to work properly after installing build 16241. For example, the Movies & TV app and WMP fail to play videos, while audio is available.

After upgrading to Windows 10 Insider preview Build 16241 from 16237 , I’m having issues with Movies & TV app and WMP. The issue is when I play a normal MP4 video file, the default Movies & TV app shows a green background and I can hear only the audio. While WMP shows black background and plays only the audio.

Other users report that they can’t launch Edge and Skype.

Bluetooth won’t work

Bluetooth is not working in the latest Windows 10 builds, and build 16241 is no exception. Insiders noticed that this issue affects mainly CSR chipsets. To fix this problem while still remaining enrolled in theWindows Insider Program, buy a new USB Bluetooth dongle that uses a different chipset. When you connect the new dongle, Windows should install a series of new drivers, and you’ll have functioning Bluetooth again.

If your machine has a built-in Bluetooth radio, try disabling it in the BIOS/UEFI to prevent Windows from trying to make it work.

These are the most frequent Windows 10 build 16241 bugs reported by Insiders. As you can see, this build is pretty stable and is not affected by severe issues such as system freezes, crashes or BSoD issues.

RELATED STORIES YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT:

Join Microsoft’s Reddit AMA to ask questions about the Windows 10 Feedback Hub

This past Friday, Microsoft called on Windows 10 fans to tweet questions to Dona Sarkar, for the chance for answers on the Windows Insider podcast. Well, if you missed that initial opportunity to connect with members of the Windows 10 team, you might want to join Microsoft’s Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) to ask questions about the Windows 10 Feedback Hub (via Neowin.)

The AMA will begin promptly at 1:30 PM (Pacific Time) later today on the Windows 10 Subreddit. It is hosted by program manager Devin Sinha, who first mentioned the AMA session on his Twitter account.

Again, this is the perfect opportunity to have your questions about the Feedback Hub answered. For starters, you can ask questions about how Microsoft filters the feedback in the hub, decides to respond to feedback, or you can even ask about the origin story of the application.

Which questions do you have relating to the Feedback hub? Do you actively use the Feedback Hub app to submit your feedback to Microsoft? Be sure to visit the AMA later today, and come back to drop us a comment to let us know if you had your question answered!

Microsoft is bringing its Future Decoded business showcase to London in late October, register now

Microsoft has revealed that their flagship business and technology conference, Future Decoded, will be heading to London in late October. This means that there is still plenty of time to register and attend in person so you can learn about what technologies are needed in the process of driving your business forward.

Future Decoded will run from October 31st to November 1st, 2017 at ExCeL London. Day one events are aimed at professionals and leaders, and exploring the impact technology and AI has on industry. Day two events, meanwhile, are focused on Azure, and how business, technology, and enterprise leaders can use the cloud to fundamentally change their business. You learn more about the other sessions by checking below.

Microsoft Future Decoded offers and inspired vision of the digital buisness of tomorrow, with the tangible advice you need to drive your buisness forward today. Join the brightest decsion makers, developers, and IT pros to learn how digital transofmration, AI, cloud for good, and gitial skills can pave the way for buisness scuccess.

Day One:

  • The Open Cloud: For developers and IT Pros: We wille xplore cloud and open source technology with leading figures from Microsoft and Open Source COmmunities

Day Two:

  • Tech Deep Dives: Deep technical content, by techies for techies, with a focus on code, scripts, data, and demos for all develoeprs, data people, and IT Pros.

Our own Abhishek Baxi attended the last Future Decoded in Mumbai, India. You can read up on his coverage, by checking here. And, you can learn more about Future Decoded by visiting the official website.

Microsoft makes it easier to find Surface Dial compatible apps on the Windows Store

Ever since the Surface Dial went on sale, browsing through the Windows Store for apps compatible with the radial haptic input accessory has proved to be a daunting task. Well, the problem is no more. Microsoft recently published a new Windows Store app collection, making it easier to find applications which work with the Surface Dial.

The new collection, which can be found here, includes applications such as Sketchable, Spiraty, Drawboard PDF, Spotify, and more. Microsoft’s own applications such as OneNote, Windows Maps, and Groove Music are included in the collection too. Even with this so, it would appear that the current list of supported applications is not that impressive at the moment, but Microsoft has been helping third party developers add support for the Surface Dial to their applications.

Microsoft has said that the Surface Dial is a ” completely new way to interact with technology,” allowing you to customize, access, navigate, and reimagine physical tools in the digital world.  So, if you’re not already the owner of a Surface Dial, you can purchase one by visiting the Microsoft Store.

Next major Windows 10 update to be called “Autumn Creators Update” in the UK and other markets

Three months ago, Microsoft announced its commitment to release two major Windows 10 updates every year, in March and September. This year, the Creators Update went RTM in March and started rolling out to all Windows 10 users a month later, and Microsoft is currently working hard on the Fall Creators Update, to be released in September at the earliest.

The “Fall Creators Update” branding is somewhat consistent with Microsoft’s current focus on empowering creators and digital artists, though it appears that the company will choose a different branding in select english-speaking countries to avoid confusion. Indeed, Windows Central spotted that Microsoft is now calling the major release the “Autumn Creators Update” in select markets such as the UK, Ireland, Australia, South Africa India, were “Fall” is not commonly used to describe the season following Summer.

Microsoft mentions the “Autumn Creators Update” on its UK website.

This won’t change anything in the US and Canada, where the upcoming major update will still be called the Fall Creators Update. It’s a bit unfortunate that Microsoft had to settle for a slightly different branding in select markets, but this probably won’t matter for the majority of consumers that don’t really pay attention to Windows 10 versions and major updates.

Microsoft releases Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 16241 for PC

Microsoft just released Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 16241 for PC to Windows Insiders in the Fast Ring. The company has also kicked off the second Bug Bash for Windows 10 Fall Creators Update.

Windows Shell Improvements

Recovering your pin and password from the lock screen

In case you are using an AADP or MSA account and get stuck at the login screen, you now have the ability to reset your password and your PIN right from there. All you have to do is click the Reset Password/I forgot my PIN link and you will be prompted to go via the AAD or MSA flow to reset it.

Refining acrylic material

Microsoft softened the noise layer of the Acrylic Material.

PC gaming improvements

An issue preventing profile cards in the Xbox Live in-game experience from working has been fixed.

The issue that was causing the Game Bar to crash while broadcasting was also fixed.

Task Manager improvements

  • The GPU name is shown on the left-hand side of the Performance tab for every GPU.
  • Task Manager defaults to the multi-engine view, showing performance monitors for the most powerful GPU engines. You will be able to see the charts for the 3D, Copy, Video Encode and Video Decode engines. You have to right-click on the chart to switch back to the single-engine view.
  • A total GPU memory text counter has been added next to the dedicated and shared text counters at the bottom of the Performance tab.
  • The Direct X version currently contains the highest supported DX feature level.
  • Microsoft Edge process labeling in Task Manager is improved. You can now group the app’s processes together. More processes such as Chakra JIT Compiler, UI Service, and Manager process are now labeled in Task Manager.

RELATED STORIES TO CHECK OUT:

Windows 10 news recap: LinkedIn to launch a new Windows 10 app, Surface Pro backlight bleed complaints and more

Welcome back to our Windows 10 news recap. We are continuing the trend of our weekly “Windows 10 news recap” series where we go over the top stories of the past week in the world of Microsoft’s flagship operating system.

Skype updated on Windows 10 for all, brings new emoji reaction features, more

The Skype app on Windows 10 has received a new update that brings a number of new features. The first of which is emoji reactions, something that has been seen on the new Skype experience for iOS and Android already, as well as the hamburger menu being removed, making it quicker to access calls and conversations.

LinkedIn is retiring its Windows Mobile app, but a new app for Windows 10 is coming soon

While LinkedIn is ending support for its Windows phone app, the now Microsoft-owned company is going to be releasing an app for Windows 10, but without any mention of mobile support.

Customers of Microsoft’s Surface Pro (2017) complain of backlight bleed issue, Microsoft offers no response

Only this week Microsoft released a fix for the hibernation issue in its Surface Pro devices, now another issue is being widely reported – the backlight bleeding from the bottom edge. Microsoft has not responded to complaints of the issue, but we’ve asked for an official response.

Macphun launches photo editing app Luminar for Windows public beta

A month ago, Macphun announced that it is bringing its award-winning photo editing app, Luminar, to Windows. Now, the company has launched a public beta of Luminar for Windows, available for free. The beta comes packed with its all-new Accent AI filter.

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

Microsoft news recap: Path Guide delivers indoor navigation, responds to new Skype experience complaints and more

Microsoft (MSFT) 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!

Microsoft Research releases Path Guide for Android, an indoor navigation app

We’ve seen the usefulness of outdoor navigation apps such as Bing Maps, but what we haven’t seen much of is indoor navigation. Microsoft Research’s latest project, Path Guide, helps to solve that. Users are able to submit indoor directions, so that other users can navigate indoor places, such as malls. It is only available for Android at the moment.

Path Guide

Latest EFF report proves Microsoft “Has Your Back” against governments seeking data

People are becoming more and more concerned about government surveillance and the data that governments can have on us. The latest “Who Has Your Back” report by the Electronic Frontier Foundation has shown that Microsoft is committed to ensuring users’ data is secure, following industry best practices. It received 4 out of 5 stars, inline with the likes of Apple, Facebook, and Yahoo.

Microsoft addresses complaints about the new Skype app, says “we will build the next generation together”

Microsoft began the rollout of the new Skype experience not long ago, for those on Android and iOS, however, it was hit with criticism by Skype users who weren’t happy with the changes, particularly with its Snapchat-esque Highlights feature. Microsoft has responded to the complaints, saying that “we will build the next generation together”.

Status display

Microsoft and BMW team up to bring Skype for Business to the new BMW 5 series

BMW has announced that it has teamed up with Microsoft to bring Skype for Business to its BMW 5 series vehicles. Skype for Business will be integrated into BMW’s iDrive system.

Skype for Business BMW Car

That’s the top Microsoft news for this week – we’ll be back next week with more.

Xbox news recap: Huge update brings custom gamerpics and more, Xbox Fitness finally shuts down

Welcome to our weekly Xbox news recap series, where we go over the top stories of the past week in the world of Xbox. Let’s get started.

Huge update brings custom gamerpics and more

Custom Gamerpics have arrived with the new update to Xbox One, along with several other big changes to the platform. The addition of custom Gamerpics applies to both profile pictures and club pictures, allowing for some extended customization on both fronts. Those downloading this week’s update can also look forward to co-streaming support on Mixer, where you can invite some of your friends to stream with you for cooperative or competitive games.

Xbox Fitness finally shuts down

On its way out for a long time now, Xbox Fitness has finally shut its doors. The closing of the application was announced quite a while ago, but a glimmer of hope for fans popped up when they discovered that they could still use some of their downloaded workouts. Unfortunately, even those workouts are now defunct – marking the end of Xbox Fitness entirely until Microsoft makes some attempt to replace it.

Xbox fitness

Microsoft gives fans more reassurance: 4K upgrades will be free

It’s been mentioned offhandedly time and time again, but Microsoft’s Aaron Greenburg has confirmed once more that 4K upgrades to games you own will be entirely free. If you own games that are better on Xbox One X, you will be charged absolutely nothing more for playing it in Native 4K with your new console.

Microsoft’s setup experience gets the Fluent Design treatment

Fluent Design is the future of Microsoft’s visual layout, and it’s starting to make its way onto the Xbox One. While we’ve already seen Fluent Design’s influence on the quick menu, we’re now seeing a totally revamped first-time setup sequence for the console that fits the new style. It’s a pretty sleek re-imagining of the setup sequence, and uses graphic representations of the console and controller to help guide you along.

Thanks for joining us. To keep up to date with all the latest Xbox news, keep a close eye on our Xbox One tag.

Did you know that Xbox One has game quizzes? Here’s how to find them (and compare yourself on the global leaderboards)

If you find yourself not wanting to play a particular game, or maybe you’re wanting to test your knowledge of a game in a quiz, Microsoft has the solution. Despite not many knowing about it, the Xbox One dashboard actually has a selection of game quizzes built-in, as discovered by sdbjazz on Reddit.

Through these quizzes, you can test your knowledge of different games, such as Minecraft, and see how you stack up against others across the world on the leaderboards that display after completing a quiz. Take a look at the video below to see Xbox Game Quizzes in action.

As shown, the quizzes are accessed via the Community tab on the dashboard, then there’s an item to the side that talks about one of the quizzes. Choosing this takes you to a screen with a range of available quizzes.

There are quizzes for a whole variety of games, and new ones are added regularly, so there’s always something to do. The idea is to continue to rack up points and to rise up on the global leaderboards. As you work your way through a quiz, the questions become harder.

Let us know what you think in the comments below (and your scores!).

A touch of Fluent Design comes to the Xbox app on Windows 10 Mobile and desktop

An update is rolling out for the Xbox App on Windows 10, and it is bringing a touch of Fluent Design to the experience of the app on both Windows 10 Mobile and desktop. You should be seeing the version 30.31.1001.0 app update now in the Windows Store, as it is available to all phones and desktops running the Windows 10 Creators Update.

Seen below, the update brings a small touch of Fluent Design to the hamburger menu of the Xbox app on desktop and mobile. Though a minor change, it alters the flat black color of the menu to a more acrylic and fluent look. Since you can now slightly see through to certain elements underneath the menu, it’s especially gorgeous looking on Windows 10 Mobile, and it’s very welcoming on desktop as well.

Fluent Design is now in the hamburger menu of the Xbox app!

Other apps on Windows 10 Mobile, such as the Groove Music app, and the Movies and TV app already have had updates which delivered similar elements of Fluent Design. Windows 10 desktop apps such as the Calculator, Sound Recorder, and Alarms and Clock have also received Fluent Design updates too.

So, if you’re not already using the Xbox app, or if you’re not set up for automatic app updates, you can grab up this latest update by clicking the link below.

Xbox Console Companion
Xbox Console Companion

Latest EFF report proves Microsoft “Has Your Back” against governments seeking data

Seven years ago, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) published a “Who Has Your Back” report, to evaluate major tech companies’ commitments to protecting users when the government seeks private data. The report has since turned into an annual tradition, and this year, the EFF is giving Microsoft four out of five stars, citing “industry best practices” as one of the primary reasons.

It is worth noting that the stars are issued to companies for different categories: industry best practices, telling users about data requests, not selling out users, standing up to NSL gag orders, and pushing for reformation of Section 702.

At the forefront of the four-star decision is the fact that Microsoft publishes an annual transparency report, law enforcement guidelines, and requires a warrant to be provided before giving user content to law enforcement. Another important factor in the decision is Microsoft tells users about government data requests, with delayed notice when a government gag order expires.

Microsoft Logo
The Microsoft Logo outside the Flagship Microsoft Store in NYC

The EFF also finds that Microsoft’s policies protect users from being “Sold out” since it specifically prohibits the company from sharing data used for surveillance. This is mainly due to the fact that Microsoft’s public policies reads: “We do not design tools to enable voluntary surveillance of our users. If we ever provide third parties with access to data about our customers, we expect those third parties to handle that data appropriately.”

Closing factors in the four-star rating include the fact that Microsoft currently does not have a policy of requesting a judicial review of National Security Letters received by the US Government.  The full report also points to the fact that Microsoft is calling for reforms of Section 702, which would significantly cut down on the surveillance of innocent American civilians.

Microsoft is not the only company which received four stars in this year’s “Who Has Your Back” report. Apple also received four stars, as well as Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Slack, and Yahoo. Amazon and WhatsApp only received two stars. The telecommunications companies, Verizon, T-Mobile, Comcast, were rated worst, and only received one star.

Tweet your questions by today to Dona Sarkar and listen for answers on the next Windows Insider podcast

Microsoft launched its own Windows Insider Podcast earlier this year, and the monthly rendez-vous is slowly but surely becoming a great source of information about Windows 10 Insider builds and much more. If you listened to previous episodes, you probably don’t want to miss the next one as Windows Insider Chief Dona Sarkar herself will answer some “burning questions” from Insiders.

If there’s something you really want to know about the Windows Insider Program, the upcoming Fall Creators Update or anything else related to Windows 10, you have until noon PST to tweet all your questions to the team by using the #AskDona hashtag. It’s great to see that the team is making the podcast a bit more interactive this month,  and we hope you’ll take advantage of this opportunity to make your voice heard.

These Microsoft Ventures security startups are beating hackers at their own game

As we have seen after the WannaCrypt ransomware made its way into computers across the world, cyber security is an issue at the forefront of the headlines these days. But the question still remains, how do you stop the hackers from striking in the first place?

Recently, a group of Microsoft Ventures security startups took to the stage at Microsoft Inspire 2017 to showcase their answers to that question, and how they are beating hackers at their own game. The two startups, Synack, and Illusive Networks have two very different approaches, both of which have been proven to be successful (via Data Center Knowledge.)

We begin with Synack, which received a $21 million investment from Microsoft Ventures in April. This company is based in Redwood City, California, and was founded in 2013, after their current CEO and co-founder Jay Kaplan left the NSA.

To keep the hackers away, they’re using what is known as crowdfunding cyber security. With their security platform, Synack offers crowdsourced penetration testing, vulnerability orchestration, analytics and risk reporting. This brings together cyber security experts from across the world and ultimately helps companies find threats faster, and on a more reliable basis.

Next up is Illusive Networks, which is an Isreali company that specializes in deception-based cyber security technology. The company recently received an investment from Microsoft Ventures and is a subsidiary of Team 8, which has been a part of Microsoft Ventures since last year.

To stop hackers and cyber attackers from striking in the first place, Illusive Networks depends on post-breach technologies. With this technology, Illusive Networks is able to think like an attacker and understand what the attacker is looking for, and how they could move into a network.  According to Data Center Knowledge, Illusive Networks even tries to defeat the hackers by using fake browser history,  false credentials, and a trap server, ultimately sending the data back to teams at the company to help prevent attacks.

Microsoft Ventures launched about a year ago, and it is a venture capital division which will focuses on early-stage start-up investments. In the first five months, Microsoft Ventures backed 13 startups in several B2B industries.

That Microsoft and Puget Sound Energy purchasing agreement has been approved by the WUTC

About three months ago, word was spreading that Microsoft could soon bypass local power companies in Washington and buy its own power. At the time, the company publically announced its plan and even filed for the deal with Puget Sound Energy as part of procedures, but things still needed to be approved by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC).

In a turn for the good, Microsoft announced yesterday,that the WUTC has formally approved the contract, ultimately allowing the tech company to directly purchase clean energy to power their 15 million-square-foot Puget Sound region campus.

According to Microsoft, this agreement comes as the result of “several years of collaborative work” between Microsoft and Puget energy. The agreement also promotes the use of renewable energy and will protect Puget Sound Energy ratepayers.

Overall, 80 percent of Microsoft’s energy load in the Puget sound area is covered in the agreement, and the remaining 20 percent will still continue to be serviced and provided by Puget Sound Energy. Other terms of the agreement include the fact that Microsoft will buy only carbon-free energy; purchase renewables at a level greatly in excess of the Renewable Portfolio Standards percentages and take significant actions to protect ratepayers.

In a statement, Brad Smith, president and chief legal officer of Microsoft commented on the agreement:

This agreement is good for our business, but more importantly it’s good for residents, the environment and the state of Washington… Once the transition is complete, the vast majority of our Puget Sound campus will be powered solely by carbon-free fuels. This contract is a helpful innovation in meeting the demand for renewable energy in a way that protects other energy consumers.

As part of the agreement, Microsoft will pay a substantial transition fee, and fund low-income, and energy conservation programs. Having plans to shift to 50% renewable energy by 2018, Microsoft is no stranger to green and clean energy,  even receiving NA Wind Deal of the Year award.

GIS mapping giant Esri partners with Microsoft on Azure, AI technologies

Microsoft has partnered up with Esri, a company that’s made its name on GIS (Geographic Information Systems) mapping, to create a “newly aligned grant process.” The new process hopes to make GIS technologies more accessible to the organizations that need them, and marries together Esri and Microsoft’s work in a way that makes both of them more effective.

Esri’s involvement with Microsoft is part of the “AI for Earth” project, and should be helping conservationists make decisions faster and more accurately than they ever could before. Esri’s data paired with Microsoft’s technology with Azure has the potential to be a serious force for good in the attempt to go green.

“Spatial analytics is a crucial part of conservation, because it is an inherently geographic field,” said Jack Dangermond, Esri founder and president. “Understanding environmental data in the context of location is necessary when making decisions about protecting fragile ecosystems. The ability to analyze the vast quantities of data present in our environment is critical, and this collaboration allows conservationists to do their job more accurately than ever before on a wider scale.”

The partnership is part of Microsoft’s strategy to utilize artificial intelligence in more humanitarian efforts. In the words of Lucas Joppa, Microsoft’s chief environmental scientist, “We believe that human ingenuity and AI can pair together to tackle some of our biggest societal challenges – including managing climate, water, agriculture, and biodiversity resources. We’re excited to work with Esri to deliver AI technology to researchers and organizations that will help them address these challenges.”

Multitasking features comes to the standard OneNote app on Windows 10

Microsoft released the July update to the standard non-insider version of the OneNote app for Windows 10. This update will include support for custom pens, multi-window support and many more features to the whole experience of the digital note-taking application.

The rollout of its update is a gradual one, so not everyone will get to see it right away.

New features for OneNote for Windows 10

Easier multitasking

You can now choose New Windows from the View tab, or you can use Ctrl+M to open a new instance in the app. Because of this, you will be able to see more notes at a time, and this way multitasking becomes the easiest it has ever been in the app.

Customizing your pens

You can choose a personal set of pens, pencils, and highlighters for inking. From the Draw menu, go to the plus sign right near the pens and select the type of pen that you want to use, the width and the ink color. The new custom pen will be added to your drawing toolbar, and everything will be ready for work.

Improved reading experience with the Immersive Reader

This new feature was designed to help users improve their reading skills by boosting their ability to pronounce words correctly, to read accurately and quickly and to also understand best what they are reading. Choose the Immersive Reader from the View menu, and then select the Text options, Voice options, Parts of speech. You also have the possibility of reading the text aloud.

In case you are not yet using the OneNote app for Windows 10 powered devices, or if you are using the OneNote 2016 desktop app, you can check the new app out, because you won’t be disappointed. Get the OneNote app from Microsoft.

RELATED STORIES TO CHECK OUT: