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I have previously argued that the Surface Phone must be a concept idea and not a physical device. Personally, I have been writing about the handset since 2015. If Microsoft was to launch it in 2018, it would not be the same device as the 2015 rumor. So, my theory has always been the Surface Phone is merely an umbrella name for what will be Microsoft’s game-changing smartphone. Let’s be clear, game changing is definitely something the company is aiming for....

Even the most reputable and established companies can experience a data breach, and it seems Microsoft is no exception. The technology giant experienced four considerable attacks in 2021 alone and was a target of much more over the years. That may lead people to assume that there are weak security implementations in place, but the truth is that the matter is much more complex and sometimes not even related to how lucrative or useless the security measures are....

Microsoft has pushed the SDK preview back to mid-January and it’s ‘confident’ that it can deliver it for then. The initial version is designed primarily to get devs familiar and gain vital feedback. MSFS’ developers heavily stress that this is a preview version and not a replacement for a full release. Thankfully, version 1 of the SDK won’t be far away, with a tentative release of March 2020. Meanwhile, the team has posted the first draft of the Feedback Snapshot in the Insider portal....

With Microsoft Forms portal improvements, users will see new abilities and a new design for the service. There is now also a snapshot feature which gives users a glimpse of each form. This snapshot includes the form title, background image, and number of responses. There is also a new search box in the portal. It is located in the upper right corner and allows users to quickly find form information by searching form title or owner....

Microsoft Forms is a platform that helps professionals and educators create content in minutes. Forms can be surveys, feedback forms, or quizzes. They can be shared with anyone, and form owners can see the results of completed forms in real time. In a blog post, Microsoft says support for images will be available in forms, surveys, quizzes, and other content. Users can insert images through a bulk import tool, copy and paste, or drag and drop....

For end users of Windows 10 (1903, May 2019 Update), the OS still places the Downloads folder within the Disk Cleanup operation. It is worth noting it is unchecked, but it is there. The change Microsoft made is probably not going to arrive until Windows 10 20H1, bypassing the soon-to-launch Windows 10 November 2019 Update. Disk Cleanup has been part of the Windows makeup since Windows 7. It is especially important for removing older Windows builds after an update....

The original and current HoloLens is inflicted by two clear problems. The first is prohibitive cost, which sees the headset cost over $3000. However, the hardware also has problems with Field of View (FOV). Specifically, the device only allows a FOV of 35 degrees. Developers and users have said this limited FOV harms the HoloLens, making it hard to use. It will be interesting to see how Microsoft deals with the cost of HoloLens 2, but in terms of FOV it seems the company is moving in the right direction....

Of course, there are a lot of sports out there. It is often the case that people like more than on sport, be it NFL, Soccer, F1, NASCAR, Tennis, NBA, Golf, or too many more to list here. In the age of social media and internet news outlets, information and news about these sports is fast paced. Keeping up with everything across several sports is tough. Sure, dedicated sports websites do a good job of aggregating news, but what about something quicker and integrated into the social experience?...

In a blog post, Microsoft says the new high-DPI scaling improvements in Windows 10 will make multiple monitor setup for different resolutions easier. For users who run a desktop application that does not render on high-DPI displays, there is now a solution. Windows 10 Creators Update will run the application as a DPI-unaware process. Essentially, this means users can choose the new functionality in several options, as detailed below:...

Users can opt in to test the new UI when they see a ‘try in beta’ switch. Microsoft says not everyone can see the button yet, but it will be available to all in the next few weeks. Of course, what’s behind the button is most important. The new Outlook.com design presents emails in a conversation-like style. This is Microsoft pursuing a messaging app vibe for its mail service. Indeed, the company says making Outlook more intelligent was an important evolutionary step: “Recent advances in programming, design, and artificial intelligence have enabled our engineers and designers to improve the Outlook....

Interestingly, the investment didn’t come from the company’s investment arm, M12. Press releases say the money came directly from Microsoft Corp. “Having a successful financing come together from both the investment community and a marquee strategic corporation like Microsoft not only brings tremendous validation to what Human is trying to achieve but also is pivotal in building strong momentum in the marketplace for our small independent company,” said Human Inc....

These factories supply 83 well-known brands, including tech giants like Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, Huawei, Google, and Sony. Over 80,000 Uyghurs were transferred to factories across China between 2017 and 2019, the ASPI says, with some of them sent directly from detention camps. Evidence shows the workers are under constant surveillance, have limited freedom of movement, live in segregated dorms, and are forbidden from religious observances. “Microsoft is committed to responsible and ethical sourcing....

Currently in preview, the new launcher takes many of the great things about Arrow and improves them. You won’t see Windows-like tiles here, but it does run somewhat in tandem with your PC. Microsoft’s ‘Continue on PC’ functionality lets users switch near-seamlessly between phone and computer straight from the home screen. Selecting a recent file presents users with the option to launch it on their desktop with only a short delay....

Microsoft has traditionally used USB 3 and eventually made the jump to USB-C, finally, with the Surface Pro 7. However, the company has remained cool on Thunderbolt. Thunderbolt 3 is noted as being one of the fastest ways to connect two devices. In the video, the Microsoft employee explains the technology’s direct memory access port means bad actors could use a memory stick to access device data. In such a scenario where a specific memory stick was used, Windows 10 would not be able to prevent the attack....

As Mixer is a gaming-first platform, Microsoft will hope people from other industries will start making education-focused content to stream. As for the new category, it will host streaming classes and lessons for Mixer users. Teachers can also tap into the platform to create virtual remote learning tools. Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, countries around the world have closed schools and moved into a state of enforced quarantine. Millions of children are home from school and educators are scrambling to find ways to keep students learning for what could be months away from structured education....

Like with its mobile Power Bi app earlier this month, Microsoft has overhauled the UI of Report Server. The app now has lighter colors on the menus, while formatting is different with changed spacing and font icons that work across the service. New default themes have also been added to Power Bi Report Server, including Innovative, Tidal, Bloom, and more. Older themes are still available but are now located under the “More Themes” menu....

1 Microsoft Office – The Evolution2 Microsoft Office 30th Anniversary Highlights Differences Between Then and Now3 30 Years Young Arguably no product has become as synonymous with Windows as Office, but it was on Mac where the service was born. It is worth noting, when Word, Excel, and PowerPoint were originally made available in the early 1980s, they were not bundled into a suite. Indeed, Office as it was to become was not the name for the suite when it arrive on Mac in 1989....

A support document points to the tool arriving on Outlook.com and Outlook for the web, providing a predictive technology that provides suggestions as an email is composed. In the document, Microsoft explains how users can select the suggestions with the tab or right arrow keyboard keys. Suggestions can be dismissed by simply continuing to type. Looking at the document, it seems Microsoft will launch the feature to relevant Outlook versions this month....

Another newly discovered Microsoft Patent points to an Xbox One controller with more nuanced stick movements. Titled ‘TRANSFORMING A CONTROL STICK MOVEMENT SPACE’, the patent was published by USPTO on July 11, 2019. Microsoft details a controller with multiple control sticks that could feature mechanical or electrical components. Either way, the device would provide more directions axes. “In some systems, a central dead zone may be employed in a movement space of position values....

With that comes new challenges. It’s difficult to monitor a child’s activity when they could be anywhere in the house, or even outside. Though router blocks help to some extent, they are easy enough to circumvent. Microsoft’s recent patent application proposes a solution to this. “Real-time parental monitoring” gives control over not just the times a party can visit the web or the sites they visit, but more invasive tactics....