Ever since the new version of Skype started to roll out to iOS and Android across the globe, there has been a massive uprising from some Skype users, who vented their frustrations in app store reviews. Indeed, users have complained that the new Skype experience on mobile “the worst ever,” with some even saying that they “can’t understand” how Microsoft even decided to “roll an unfinished beta version.”

Well, it turns out that the Skype team was listening, as the team today penned a blog post which noted that the new Skype app was a “big change.” The post explains that the Skype team is always listening, updating, and responding to feedback. And, more importantly, the post headlines that going forward, the Skype team will be “building the next generation of Skype together” with the community.

The post also points to some initial changes which have already rolled out, such as the ability to delete contacts, conversations, and to multi-task while calling. With this so, it turns out there will be more on the way to address the needs of the Skype community:

Our mission doesn’t stop there. We’ll continue to make improvements—including new features and functions—over the coming months. We want to make sure you’re using the new Skype the way you want, so we’re reintroducing:

• Status display for your contacts on the home screen, so you can easily see who is active
• Native sharing capabilities on both Android and iOS, allowing you to share content to Skype chats from other apps and services
• More themes and colors options to enable you to personalize Skype
• An updated user interface to improve legibility and to make it easier to navigate and access your conversations.

It is great to see that the Skype team has listened to the complaints of users. So, if you’re feeling that features are missing from the app, or if you think it is too buggy, it’s best not to go on a rant in a review on the App Store. You should rather submit your feedback directly through the Skype Community, or via the Skype app from the “Send Feedback” option.

With the feature sets locked in, the Windows team is looking to use its 2nd (and final) Bug Bash event to solidify the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update.

The Bug Bash will start at 12am (Pacific Time) on Friday July 14th and will run a full week ending at 11:59 pm (Pacific Time) on Sunday July 23rd. This build will be our Bug Bash build. As usual, we will be publishing new quests so be sure to open Feedback Hub and complete as many quests as you can!

And we’ll also be doing Mixer webcasts at the following dates and times for the Bug Bash:

Tuesday July 18th: 1:30pm – 3:00pm (Pacific Time)

Friday July 21st: 10:00am – 11:30am (Pacific Time)

With the latest preview release, Bug Bash participants are sure to find some things that should earn them some really cool badges this time around.

Let us know of your Bug Bash experiences in the comments below.

Head of the Windows Insider Program Dona Sarkar was a special guest on the latest Windows Weekly podcast yesterday, which was recorded live from Microsoft’s Inspire conference in Washington D.C. The discuss shared some insight about the company’s partner ecosystem during the episode, but Sarkar also announced that Microsoft is in final testing for a new website dedicated for Windows Insiders, Insider.Windows.com.

According to Sarkar, the new site may launch as early as next week, though it will be first available to Windows Insider MVPs before opening to everyone. Here is what you can expect:

• The new website will be focused on different kind of audiences, including consumers, SMBs and large businesses.
• It will feature a Resources section, where Insiders can learn how to roll back to previous builds and much more. There will also be content sourced by Insiders, Sarkar said
• It will also have a Feedback Hub section to ask Insiders what other information they’d like to have on the website. We’ll have to wait and see whether the new site will bring a web version of the full Feedback Hub.

You can listen to what Dona Sarkar said about the new website in the video below (the segment starts at 59:10):

Overall, the new website has been designed to empower all Windows Insiders to do more with Windows 10, and it will be a nice complement to the Windows 10 Feedback Hub app. We’ll let you know if we learn more about the website in the coming days, let us know in the comments if you’re looking forward to visit it.

Over the past few months, we’ve seen Microsoft’s new Fluent Design System pop up in several Windows 10 UWP apps as well as various Windows Shell elements in the latest Windows 10 Insider builds. As Microsoft explained during Build 2017, Fluent Design will make its debut with the upcoming Fall Creators Update and it will roll out gradually to all Windows 10 devices in the following months.

The new design language will also be applied to the Xbox One OS, and as it turns out Xbox Insiders can already see some Fluent Design touches during the Xbox One setup experience. Our colleagues over at Windows Central shared some images of the redesigned Xbox One out-of-box experience today, and you can check those changes in the version 1706 of the Xbox One OS. You can see below one of the new animations that appears during the set-up process, with a smooth transition to a redesigned menu:

Interestingly, the new Xbox One setup experience is also customized depending on the console in use. “While a white background and black text are used for the Xbox One S, the setup process adapts accordingly when resetting an original black Xbox console,” explains Windows Central. The OOBE will also be adapted for the upcoming Xbox One X.

If the new animations and smoother transistions between menus are very welcome changes, the new OOBE hasn’t been drastically changed: after choosing their basic settings, users will be redirected to the “Welcome app” which has been updated to promote new features such as Controller Linking. But overall, the new set up experience gives us a sneek peek at the bigger Fluent Design update for the Xbox One that Microsoft teased during Build 2017:

Microsoft last redesigned the Xbox One OS two years ago with the New Xbox One Experience, and the Xbox One dashboard has since received several updates to improve performance and also promote the company’s new Mixer live-streaming service. It’s clear though that there is still more room for improvement, and we hope Microsoft won’t prioritize design over performance in the near feature. A better-looking Xbox One dashboard would be welcome, but we would also like Microsoft (and third-party developers) to improve the design of the few UWP apps currently available on the Xbox One, which too often look like blown-up mobile apps.

Do you like what Microsoft is doing with the new Xbox One setup experience, and do you think the Xbox One OS is in need of a design refresh? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

The sci-fi blockbuster, Ghost in the Shell, is now available to purchase in most regions in the Windows Store on Windows 10 devices and the Xbox One console. The movie is an American adaption of the Japanese comic book series of the same name which itself has spawned numerous animated TV series and films, each with their own unique aesthetic. Here’s the official film synopsis:

In the near future, Major (Scarlett Johansson) is the first of her kind: A human saved from a terrible crash, who is cyber-enhanced to be a perfect soldier devoted to stopping the world’s most dangerous criminals. When terrorism reaches a new level that includes the ability to hack into people’s minds and control them, Major is uniquely qualified to stop it. As she prepares to face a new enemy, Major discovers that she has been lied to: her life was not saved, it was stolen. She will stop at nothing to recover her past, find out who did this to her and stop them before they do it to others. Based on the internationally acclaimed Japanese Manga, “The Ghost in the Shell.”

Buy Ghost in the Shell in the Windows Store

Have you watched Ghost in the Shell yet and would you recommend it to others? Share your thoughts with the community in the comments below.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, has found himself in the center of a pretty serious scandal – and the smoking gun is one of Microsoft’s fonts. The Prime Minister’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz, seems to have falsified documents in an effort to hide her possession of some overseas properties. The problem? These documents were typed out in Calibri font – something that wasn’t released to the public until 2007, one year after these papers were dated.

Maryam Nawaz to whoever forged the documents. #Fontgate pic.twitter.com/IAoQGhoXcY

— R (@ra_so93) July 11, 2017

Now, the scandal gets a little bit more complicated than that. While Calibri wasn’t officially released until 2006, there were pre-release version floating around a few years earlier. In an interview with Calibri font creator Lucas de Groot, Pakistani newspaper Dawn got him to open up with his thoughts.

“If the person using Calibri was such a font lover that he or she had to use the new Calibri, then he or she should be able to prove that other documents were printed with Calibri in 2006, and these prints should be in the hands of other people as well,”

Microsoft itself probably won’t be getting involved with this, but fans of the company or Pakistani politics might want to get some popcorn as the political drama ensues. Sharif has been called to resign, but as of now, everything is up in the air.

Microsoft announced today that it’s bringing new features to its Paint 3D app on Windows 10 PCs. The 3D creation app is now pre-installed on all PCs running the Windows 10 Creators Update, and it allows users to create 3D objects from scratch or transform user-generated content available on the company’s Remix 3D online community.

“We’ve been listening to feedback from our fans to improve the experience and bring you the features you want,” shared the company in a blog post. The first new addition is an update to Magic Select, the tool that lets you easily crop the background of any picture to use objects or persons from your pictures in 3D creations. “As of today, you can now magic select content directly into a scene, even after the scene has been partially composed so there is no need to move the object off canvas first,” explained Microsoft.

The second new addition is actually a feature from the legacy MS Paint app: the Line and Curve tools, which let you draw and create shapes in the old Paint app are now available in Paint 3D alongside other 2D shapes in the “Stickers” menu. “The Line tool gives you the ability to control the thickness and opacity and the Curve tool has one, two, and three inflection point controls that allow for the creation of lots of interesting objects,” explained the company.

Last but not least, Paint 3D now supports GLB, a new open standard which should make 3D file sharing more user-friendly. Overall, Microsoft’s new 3D creation tool is one of the most interesting Windows 10 apps that the Redmond giant introduced this year (along with the new Story Remix app, which will be available with the Fall Creators Update). The company says that more updates are coming in the near future, but you can still use the feedback hub in Paint 3D to suggest new features to the team.

Just yesterday, Microsoft made headlines for the announcement of their new Rural Airband Initiative. Though Microsoft has the goal of building the technology to help millions of citizens in rural America online, the initiative mainly depends on TV white spaces, otherwise known the unused broadcasting frequencies in the wireless spectrum. Noted by TechDirt, it turns out this is exactly what has upset the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB.)

In a post on their website, NAB Executive Vice President of Communications Dennis Wharton, responded directly to reports of Microsoft’s Rural Airband Initiative proposal. He balks at Microsoft and calls the development of the White Spaces initiatives a “well-documented failure,” linking to a 2015 ReCode post and calling on lawmakers to not “be misled by slick Microsoft promises.”

“It’s the height of arrogance for Microsoft — a $540 billion company — to demand free, unlicensed spectrum after refusing to bid on broadcast TV airwaves in the recent FCC incentive auction. Microsoft’s white space device development has been a well-documented, unmitigated failure. Policymakers should not be misled by slick Microsoft promises that threaten millions of viewers with loss of lifeline broadcast TV programming.”

Issues with White Spaces have dated back to 2004, and certain Internet Service Providers have also tried to petition the government to destroy White Space Broadband. In fact, at the start of the digital TV era, the NAB also ran ads which claimed that White Space Broadband would crowd broadcast airwaves and cause many to lose access to their TV shows. Microsoft, though, has published studies which reveal that the viability of the technology has been proven.

To be fair, the NAB is most likely barking at Microsoft because it would not have control over the spectrum being used by Microsoft’s partners. Microsoft also has an entire website devoted to the success of White Spaces. The website shows that the tech giant has deployed 20 TV white spaces projects in 17 countries that have served 185,000 users. Microsoft also believes that all tech companies in America can benefit from their Rural Broadband Initiative.

We’ve reached out to Microsoft for further comment on the latest remarks from the NAB and will update the story accordingly.

Smartphones are all the rave today, but an increasing chatter is beginning to surface as to how we fully utilize not only our most personal computing device but how its access to information should interact with the rest of our world.

Companies such as Apple, Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft are all looking into finding solutions that make information flow between smartphones and a host of other devices as seamless as possible with the use of artificial intelligence.

Enter Microsoft’s recent focus on the advance of its AI efforts that have brought users tools such as Microsoft Translator, Azure Machine Learning, and Bing.

Now, Microsoft is looking to a new incubation effort called Microsoft Research AI which was created to solve some of the nuances of integrating artificial intelligence into practical applications.

During the celebration of Microsoft’s Cambridge U.K. research lab’s 20th anniversary, the company took some time to introduce Microsoft Research AI as it also explained the core goals of the project.

Another core goal of Microsoft Research AI is to reunite AI research endeavors such as machine learning, perception and natural language processing that have evolved over time into separate fields of research. This integrated approach will allow us to develop sophisticated understandings and tools that can help people do complex, multifaceted tasks. For example, using this approach we can create methods and systems that understand language and take action based on that understanding.

Another of Microsoft’s AI efforts is to address and advance the more insipid use cases of AI that are being used today such as algorithms designed to manipulate users into spending money, illicit personal information, judge the value of human life when navigating roads and much more.

According to a report from Business Insider, today’s announcement differs from Microsoft’s long-standing participation in AI development by organizing experts in a far more strategic effort.

Microsoft Research Labs director Eric Horvitz mentioned to BI that the new AI labs are a “key strategic effort; a move that is “absolutely critical” as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly important to the future of technology.” As it stands now, Microsoft’s new Research AI teams make up a rounding error for the company’s staff, but we should expect to see those numbers increase as the company looks to compete with the likes of Amazon, Google, and Facebook in the coming years.

Overall, it’s up to not only Microsoft but every company looking to harness artificial intelligence to think long and hard of the ramifications of their applications, and that seems to be what Microsoft’s Research AI Labs was created to accomplish.

Windows 10 S, the new version of Windows 10 streamlined for security and performance finally made its debut on Microsoft’s Surface Laptop last month. The latest addition to the Surface Family is definitely an interesting machine: this is Microsoft’s first true laptop, and it’s mostly targeted at college students who are traditionnally inclined to buy Apple’s MacBooks.

If reviews for the Surface Laptop have been mostly positive so far (except the numerous comments about its very poor repairability), it’s still too early to know if consumers are likely to embrace Windows 10 S: PCs running the new OS will only be able to run Windows Store apps, though Microsoft guarantees that this limitations should provide better security and performance.

When Microsoft introduced the new Windows 10 SKU earlier this year, the company made it clear that it would be very easy for consumers to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro and get access to legacy Win32 apps if they really need them. However, the company didn’t say if Windows 10 S PCs like the Surface Laptop would be eligible for Windows 10 Insider Preview builds, just like any PCs running Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro. As it turns out, the Surface Laptop can be enrolled in the Windows Insider just fine, Windows Central is reporting today.

On the Surface Laptop, the Windows Insider Program tab is present in the Settings app, and it allows users to choose their preferred Insider Ring. “It’s worth noting that even if on Fast Ring users can still at any point switch to Windows 10 Pro from Windows 10 S through the Windows Store and not lose data, or have to roll back,” added Windows Central.

It’s great to see that Windows 10 S PCs have full access to Windows Insider builds, which means that the OS is on the same page than other Windows 10 SKUs. For now, Windows 10 S is only available on the Surface Laptop but Microsoft previously announced that many OEMs including Acer, Asus, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Samsung and Toshiba would bring Windows 10 S PCs starting at $189 this summer. Moreover, the new SKU will also be free to install for all schools on their current genuine Windows 10 Pro PCs.

It’s admittedly been states numerous times from a variety of sources since this year’s Microsoft E3 presentation that all of the Xbox One video games gaining 4K visuals later this year would be getting these via free updates but a surprisingly large number of gamers still seem unsure about the jump from 1080p to 4K and the (non-existent) price involved.

Microsoft’s Aaron Greenberg replied to a worried user on Twitter today and confirmed once again that yes, these 4K updates would indeed be free. “Any title you own that adds a 4K update will be done for free,” his tweet reads.

Yes any title you own that adds a 4K update will be done for free.

— Aaron “Day One On Game Pass” Greenberg ????????‍♂️????U (@aarongreenberg) July 11, 2017

Naturally, to properly experience these improved 4K graphics, gamers will need to purchase the upcoming Xbox One X console and a compatible 4K television set but as far as the games go, if you’ve already bought them they won’t cost you any more money.

While the physical version of Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 has been available for pre-order for a while now, the digital version is finally up in the Windows Store for gamers to buy and download before its August 8th release date. Here’s its official description and link:

The Blue Bomber is back in this second collection of classic Capcom titles! Featuring faithful reproductions of Mega Man 7, 8, 9, & 10, this collection spans the iconic series’ evolution and retro revolution. Take on the nefarious Dr. Wily and his diverse Robot Masters in these timeless 8-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit adventures!

Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 is bursting with additional content, from time trials and remix challenges with online leaderboards, to a music player and an extensive gallery of rare illustrations. Also included are the additional modes originally released as DLC for Mega Man 9 and 10, featuring extra stages and playable characters. For anyone who wants a little extra help with these challenging classic platformers, you now have the option to reduce the amount of damage received.

Pre-order Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 on Xbox One

Are you excited to play Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 on Xbox One? Let us know which classic title you want to play the most.

New reports are indicating that Microsoft is shutting down a Surface Hub manufacturing facility in Wilsonville, Oregon, cutting 124 jobs.  The move does not mean that Microsoft is abandoning Surface Hub, and according to ZDNet is coming because the company is aligning its manufacturing efforts.

Word on the closure of the facility was first reported by Puget Sound Business Journal, and many others have since picked up on the news. While the cuts from the closure cover mainly engineering positions, it is not as massive when Microsoft made headlines for laying off 3,000 workers in international offices in sales positions.

In a statement made to ZDNet, a Microsoft spokesperson explains the reason for the closure of the manufacturing facility.

“We are consolidating our Surface manufacturing. This will result in the closure of the Wilsonville, OR office and factory. We remain committed to the Surface Hub product line and will move forward with Surface Hub development in Redmond.”

The manufacturing facility dates backs to 2012 when Microsoft acquired Perceptice Pixel Inc. Surface Hub, nonetheless, has been successful for Microsoft. The Windows 10 Creators update recently made its way to the Surface Hub, and Microsoft even expanded the Surface Hub partner program in the UK to address huge demand.

Microsoft has gotten a whole lot done as a result of their Feedback Hub. The app made its way into Windows 10 as a huge part of the development process, and the primary way for Insiders and other users to interact with the team behind Windows, to help for a more dynamic development process.

To give users an idea of who the people behind the Feedback Hub are, Microsoft has released a video that goes into the details. It tells the story of the 32 programmers, designers, and more that work on the team, and offers some valuable perspective.

On top of being a nice look into the inner workings of Microsoft’s feedback practices, the video helps Windows 10 users understand exactly what happens when they submit their ideas to the feedback hub. It explains the how and why of each category in the hub, and gives you an idea of what happens once the team gets that suggestion.

It’s now been a month since EA revealed the first official gameplay trailer for Star Wars Battlefront 2, and many fans of the franchise can’t wait to play the sequel to the 2015 reboot of the series. Well, the publisher finally shared some details about the upcoming multiplayer beta yesterday, and you should make sure to free your calendar in the first week of October.

Starting October 4, all fans who pre-ordered the game on Xbox One, Playstation 4 or Windows will get early access to the multiplayer beta. All players will get access to it two days later on October 6, and EA promises that there will be “a lot to explore.” The publisher shared the following details in the blog post announcing the news:

You’ll be able to experience some of the best of Star Wars Battlefront II across iconic planets and into the far reaches of space. Get set to dive into Naboo: Theed in Galactic Assault. Join Republic clone troopers and Separatist battle droids in a wild melee on the streets surrounding the royal palace, where you’ll take control of some of your favorite heroes.

But that’s only part of the story. Also included is a multiplayer Starfighter Assault battle (with more details to be revealed at Gamescom), giving you the ability to pilot a variety of the most memorable starfighters from Star Wars.

The multiplayer beta will be available through October 9, and you can still pre-order the game if you want to get early access. By doing so, you’ll also get bonus content including Yoda’s Epic Lightsaber Mastery Star Card, Exclusive Star Wars : The Last Jedi outfits for Kylo Ren and Rey and more. “Keep your eyes open for even more surprises as the beta approaches,” added EA.

As we have pointed out in the past, Microsoft has been pushing white space technology which could be used to bring affordable Internet to everyone. Indeed, in a time when the world is ever so more connected, the technology only helps citizens get online, since it is powered by the unused broadcasting frequencies in the wireless spectrum. Well, it turns out that Microsoft is set to expand on this with a new Rural Airband Initiative that could bring the internet to millions in the most rural areas of the United States (via recode.net)

According to a blog post penned by Microsoft President Brad Smith, Microsoft is hoping that the Rural Airband Initiative will bring better broadband to two million Americans in the next five years.  The project will begin in 12 states with 12 projects where Microsoft partners and local internet service providers and telecommunications companies have offered seed money for the program. Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, New York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin, are reported to be taking part in the Rural Airband Initiative.

Again, this initiative does not mean that Microsoft is aiming to become an internet service provider. Since building networks in rural areas can be expensive, the tech company is rather providing the necessary assets to local internet providers in these 12 states to help them deliver Internet services, and is not taking profit. Microsoft will instead invest back the revenue from the Rural Airband Initiative into initiatives in other states where the internet access is hard to come by.  The company also plans to invest in the newly connected communities and use its philanthropic organization to work with National 4-H Council and help raise awareness for digital skills training.

Microsoft has already deployed 20 TV white spaces projects in 17 countries that have served 185,000 users.  The company notes that if 23 million additional customers can access the internet at broadband speeds thanks to this project, all tech company in America will benefit from the Rural Airband Initiative. In fact, Microsoft hopes the project serves as a catalyst for market investments and has plans to stimulate investment by other companies through technology licensing. You can learn more abut the Microsoft Whitespaces initiative, and read up on the success stories by clicking here.

If you have yet to purchase an Xbox One console, Amazon is currently offering great discounts on Xbox One S bundles for its massive Prime Day sale. In the US, Amazon Prime members can choose between a $290 bundle including a 1TB Xbox One S console and a lot of goodies, and a slightly less generous $240 bundle with a 500GB Xbox One S (via Windows Central). Here are all the details below:

For $289.99 ($31% off), the first bundle includes a 1TB Xbox One S (white) plus two wireless controllers, a Play & Charge kit, a physical copy of Halo Wars 2 and three digital games (Halo 5: Forza Motorsports 6, Halo 5: Guardians and ReCore).

For $239.99 (31% off), the second bundles includes a 500GB Xbox One S with two wireless controllers, a Play and Charge Kit and the same three digital games.

In the UK, Amazon Prime members can also save big on a £179.99 bundle including a 500GB Xbox One S console, 2 wireless controllers, a chatpad and headset, a physical copy of Minecraft Favorites Pack and a download code for Forza Horizon 3. All these deals will only be available today for Amazon Prime members, and if you’re not a subscriber we remind you that you can try the service for free for 30 days.

For a while, it looked as if Microsoft had gifted loyal Xbox Fitness users with full functionality for downloaded workouts after the apparent July 31st closure of the Xbox One fitness title but unfortunately within the last 24 hours, all of the programs have now completely stopped functioning and even cause Xbox Fitness to crash when being attempted to play.

Currently, the Xbox Fitness app itself still opens and users can view all of the leaderboards and score cards. It’s only the workouts which no longer work.

The closure of Xbox Fitness had been planned for a while now but many loyalists, who had been using it since the launch of the Xbox One several years ago, had been hoping that Microsoft was going to introduce a replacement for it. So far no new first-party fitness or health program has been announced for the console.

Were you a fan of Xbox Fitness and do you think Microsoft made the right decision in closing it? Let us know in the comments below.

The first episode of Minecraft Story Mode Season 2 is now available to buy and download on Microsoft’s Xbox One video game console. The game picks up where Season 1 (simply called, Minecraft Story Mode) left off and players can choose to carry over their previous choices and continue the storyline or start afresh with a new game not affected by their playing of the first game. Here’s the official description:

Now that Jesse and the gang have vanquished the Wither Storm, saved the world, and become totally super famous heroes, life has gotten a bit more…complicated. With more responsibilities and less time for adventure, old friendships have started to fade — at least until Jesse’s hand gets stuck in a creepy gauntlet that belongs to an ancient underwater temple. Together with old pals and new comrades alike, Jesse embarks on a brand new journey filled with tough choices, good times, and at least one temperamental llama.

Buy Minecraft Story Mode Season 2 on Xbox One

Minecraft Story Mode Season 2 will consist of five episodes which each episode being available individually or together as part of the Season Pass. Are you a fan of Minecraft Story Mode? Let us know in the comments below.

At Inspire 2017 today, Satya Nadella introduced Microsoft 365. The new solution shows a shift and will bring together Office 365, Windows 10 and Enterprise Mobility, Security, into one complete and secure solution.

According to a post penned by Kirk Koenigsbauer, corporate vice president for the Office team, Microsoft 365 addresses the commercial needs from the largest enterprise to the smallest businesses. It comes in two forms, Microsoft 365 Enterprise and Microsoft 365 Business. Microsoft 365 Enterprise is for large organizations and integrates Office 365 Enterprise, Windows 10 Enterprise and Enterprise Mobility + Security.

Secondly, Microsoft 365 Business is designed for small-to-medium sized businesses with up to 300 users, also integrating Office 365 Business Premium with tailored security and management features from Windows 10 and Enterprise Mobility + Security. You can learn more about these solutions below.

Microsoft 365 Enterprise: (Will replace Secure Productive Enterprise)

• Unlocks creativity by enabling people to work naturally with ink, voice and touch, all backed by tools that utilize AI and machine learning.
• Provides the broadest and deepest set of apps and services with a universal toolkit for teamwork, giving people flexibility and choice in how they connect, share and communicate.
• Simplifies IT by unifying management across users, devices, apps and services.
• Helps safeguard customer data, company data and intellectual property with built-in, intelligent security.

Microsoft 365 Business:

• Helps companies achieve more together by better connecting employees, customers and suppliers.
• Empowers employees to get work done from anywhere, on any device.
• Protects company data across devices with always-on security.
• Simplifies the set-up and management of employee devices and services with a single IT console.

Also new and announced at Inspire 2017 is the preview of three tailored Office 365 applications for small-to-medium sized customers. Microsoft Listings, Microsoft Connections, and Microsoft Invoicing. These applications will be coming soon to Office 365 Business Premium and Microsoft 365 Business.

Microsoft 365 Enterprise will be offered in two plans, Microsoft 365 E3 and Microsoft 365 E5. Both are available for purchase on August 1, 2017. Similarly, Microsoft 365 Business will be available in public preview on August 2, 2017, with general availability coming worldwide in the fall of 2017, priced at $20 per user, per month.

While I was pretty excited about buying the new Surface Pro last month, I was also kicked to finally pair it with my new Mozo Sneaker Sleeve for Surface.

Mozo Accessories, the accessory maker from Helsinki, Finland, has made several accessories for Microsoft products, and came into prominence around the launch of Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL with some nice back covers and cases for the same. Of course, it made sense for the company to pivot to the more popular Surface line-up.

Inspired by the quintessential canvas sneakers – like those from Vans or Converse – the Mozo Sneaker Sleeves come in two color variants – red and blue. There’s a black variant as well but differs in the material (PU all over) and also in the looks. There’s no strap or handle on these sleeves, so you can’t carry them around like bags.

Made from a combination of canvas and PU leather, the Mozo Sneaker Sleeve sports an interior lining of a soft cotton canvas. There’s a zipper pocket on the front outside, and a divided pocket inside as well. The interior pocket helps fit not only the device but also other accessories like the charger, without scratching you device.

The Sneaker sleeve does not just carry the ‘sneaker’ moniker, but also looks the part. The chunky zippers add to the street-smart aesthetics, and are definitely more reliable in the long run. The rubber foot at the bottom is a neat addition. One, it totally looks like a sneaker sole and adds protection at the bottom, and also gives it a little base to be placed vertically aligned with a chair or something.

Of course, the sleeve is not just for a Surface Pro or Surface Book, and most 13-inch laptops and 2-in-1s, like the Dell XPS 13 that I tried, should easily fit. The sleeve measures 33.5 x 25.5 x 2.5 cm.

Overall, the Mozo Sneaker Sleeves are a work of art and bring together fashion and functionality in a perfect way. Even though I’m not much of a sleeve fan, I find myself lugging around my Surface Pro in this sleeve most days of the week now. The bright blue and red canvas design should appeal to a lot of young people. I’d really like to see Mozo making messenger bags or briefcases in similar design, and I’d totally buy one.

The sleeves were originally priced at €49.90, which was a tad expensive, but are now available for only €29.90 ($34), which is a steal really. There’s a moderate bit of protection, and the design’s pretty rad.

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’s Chief Information Officer departs, and Kurt DelBene replaces him

In part due to Microsoft’s global sales force reorganisation, which is aimed at cementing the company’s focus on cloud services, the Chief Information Officer, Jim DuBois, has left the company, and is being replaced by a new role – Chief Digital Officer – to be taken up by Kurt DelBene.

Microsoft’s back-to-school deals begin today, run through September 17th

If you’re looking to grab some Microsoft products or services over the coming weeks and months, now is the time, as the company has kickstarted its back-to-school deals, which will run until September 17th.

BBC Newsnight takes an exclusive backstage look at Microsoft’s AI research labs

Ever wanted to take a behind-the-scenes look at Microsoft’s AI research lab? Now you can. BBC Newsnight got exclusive access to Microsoft’s AI lab. Take a look below.

Microsoft and Baidu partner to bring AI powered vehicles to the automotive market

Speaking of AI, this week saw a new partnership between Microsoft and Baidu. With this partnership, the company’s hope to bring AI-powered vehicles to the automotive market, specifically in the self-driving vehicle area, as part of Baidu’s Apollo driverless car project.

Search giant Baidu enlists more than 50 partners for its Apollo driverless car project https://t.co/dNwS3KdJu6 pic.twitter.com/7ikjI1n7UW

— Bloomberg (@business) July 5, 2017

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

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.

VBScript now disabled by default on Internet Explorer 11 on Windows 10 build 16237, security patch coming to other Windows versions

On the latest build for Windows 10 Insiders on build 16237, Internet Explorer 11 now has VBScript disabled by default. Additionally, those on older versions of Windows will see VBScript disabled by default in a future security patch. For many, this will help make Internet Explorer 11 that little bit securer, as VBScript is often an attack vector.

Custom pens, multi-window support, and more come to the standard OneNote app on Windows 10

OneNote on Windows 10 has received quite a hefty update, which adds a number of new features, such as:

• See multiple notes at the same time
• Pen customisation
• Immersive Reading

Take a first look at the Acer Mixed Reality headset (video)

Sean Ong has given us a first real look at Acer’s attempt at a Mixed Reality headset, showing off the unboxing, set-up and actual use of the headset.

Some new Surface Pros are randomly hibernating, Microsoft is investigating

An annoying issue has cropped up on some new Surface Pro devices whereby the device will simply hibernate randomly. Microsoft has said that it is investigating the issue. Around 300 users have reported the issue, with some reports of data loss.

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