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.

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”.

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.

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

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.

Tip: Install the One Drive app on your Xbox One and you can customize your gamer pic to one stored there. Here is how. pic.twitter.com/1amRPdqFVM

— Larry Hryb ????????☁ (@majornelson) July 13, 2017

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.

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.

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

— Aaron Greenberg ????????‍♂️????U (@aarongreenberg) July 11, 2017

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.

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!).

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.

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.

Download
QR-Code

Xbox Console Companion

Developer:
Microsoft Corporation

Price:
Free

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.

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.

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.

Insiders: It's the last day to submit Qs for @DonaSarkar, @WindowsInsider Chief #NinjaCat. Tweet #AskDona your burning questions by noon PST

— Windows Insider (@windowsinsider) July 14, 2017

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.

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.

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.

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 & @Microsoft_Green join forces to accelerate conservation w/ enhanced land cover mapping #Tech https://t.co/XL74A9GpdM #AIforEarth #GIS pic.twitter.com/8Raru11wfn

— Esri (@Esri) July 12, 2017

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.”

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.