Author: Microsoft Stories

While concepts like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are yet to receive mass developer attraction, Microsoft is planning to shift some community interest towards its HoloLens mixed reality (MR) technology. The Redmond company has released HoloJS to help JavaScript developers build new MR apps. Microsoft’s HoloJS allows developers to create Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps using JavaScript and WebGL.

Microsoft India has launched Microsoft Intelligent Network for Eyecare (MINE) in collaboration with L V Prasad Eye Institute. MINE is a global network of research and academic institutions which have come together to use artificial intelligence to help eliminate avoidable blindness and to deliver eyecare services worldwide. The data collected by these organizations will include the rate of change of myopia in children, conditions that impact children’s eyesight, predictive outcomes of refractive surgery, optimal surgery parameters as well as ways to personalize a surgery and maximize its probability of success. To study this data, Microsoft will use Cortana Intelligence Suite for advanced analytics and to build artificial intelligence models on eyecare.

Microsoft, has unveiled its Microsoft Dynamics 365 suite and Microsoft AppSource in India. Peter Gartenberg, General Manager, Enterprise Business, Microsoft India said, “With Dynamics 365 we now bring the combined power of CRM and ERP on a secure and flexible local cloud platform. Our retail, BFSI and manufacturing customers now don’t need to invest in expensive and time consuming deployments to start their digital transformation. Backed by decades of research and investment, we have built Dynamics 365 to deliver the most advanced analytics and machine learning intelligence capabilities to our customers in India.”

Microsoft sees untapped potential in driving increased engagement across LinkedIn, Office 365 and Dynamics. To maximize such potential the tech giant plans to utilize the expanding capabilities of the professional network, which includes the integration of LinkedIn identity and network in Microsoft Outlook and the Office suite, as well as the addition of LinkedIn notifications within the Windows action centre. In addition, the vendor will also extend the reach of sponsored content across Microsoft properties, integrate Enterprise LinkedIn Lookup powered by Active Directory and Office 365.

Microsoft is planning to allow fridges, toasters, thermostats, and other Internet of Things (IoT) devices to access Cortana. The software giant is bringing Cortana to IoT devices with its Windows 10 Creators Update, due in March next year. “Any kind of smart device with a screen can now take advantage of Cortana,” explains Microsoft program manager Carla Forester. Microsoft wants device makers to use a screen to get the full Cortana UI, and the company is providing fridges, thermostats, and toasters as example devices that we’ll likely see in the future.

In an interview, Jason Zander, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Azure, said, “What I would say is that we’ve been an enterprise player basically for 20 years now. We are a company that has been very involved in the data center and the software used to run data centers historically. We’re also a company that offers technology at multiple levels. I would say that our longstanding enterprise strength and the comprehensive nature of the solution that we’re offering is actually super important to us and we think that it’s been resonating really well with our customers.”

A report revealed that more people were switching from Macs to Surface recently. Per Microsoft, people were switching from Macs to Surface because of the disappointment of the new MacBook Pro among professionals combined with “the excitement for the innovation of Surface.” “The best buy-exclusive Surface bundle sold out on the first day. The momentum was seen worldwide. In the Britain, we had the best single week for Surface ever and in Germany the Surface Pen became the best seller in PC accessories on Amazon for over 12 hours,” the company said in a blog post.

Microsoft has launched its Windows Scoop Fans program, a pan-India initiative which aims to bring together all Windows brand lovers and make them a privileged part of the Windows fans community. Microsoft is extending an invitation to every fan to come and become a part of its elite Fan community. Participants must email an answer, within 100 words, to the question: “Why are you the biggest fan of Windows?” at [email protected] by Dec 25, 2016. Those who get selected will then be able to enjoy exclusive advantages and privileges.