Tech 2: Samsung and Microsoft renew partnership with a focus on IoT; announce Galaxy TabPro S with Windows 10

Microsoft’s Terry Myerson, said, “With Windows 10, both companies wanted to do something great together, and we showcased the new Samsung Galaxy TabPro S, along with our shared vision for future innovation together across the entire Internet of Things.” He added, ““We’re excited about today’s devices and we’re also inspired about the potential of tomorrow. Along with Samsung, we share a common vision for millions and millions of devices and Things all communicating together using open protocols and standards within inclusive ecosystems, inspiring the creativity of software developers, device manufacturers, and rising star Makers around the world.”

ET CIO: Microsoft is pushing for a quantum leap to shape the future of computing

Microsoft and Rambus have announced a partnership whereby they will be jointly looking into the memory requirements which will be necessary for quantum computing to become a reality in some form. Microsoft wants to push on in this arena, looking at the theoretical side of creating quantum computers, and designing the relevant hardware and software – basically laying the groundwork at this point, rather than actually building such a machine.

Information Week: Windows 10 Devices, connected car deals at CES – Microsoft roundup

With the wave of new Windows 10 products released at CES, the number of devices running the new OS is poised to further accelerate in 2016. New PCs came from companies including LG, HP, Lenovo, and Dell. Tablets came from HP and Samsung, which unveiled the new Galaxy TabPro S convertible tablet. The hybrid model is proving popular as manufacturers take cues from Microsoft’s original Surface design. On the smartphone front, the expansion of Windows 10 Mobile sparked some discussion at CES. Microsoft’s new mobile operating system is starting to get attention from other smartphone makers.

Gaming Bolt: Creation tool Roblox is coming to Xbox One

Game-creation platform Roblox is coming to Xbox One on January 27. The platform lets users create their own games, levels, and worlds using the game’s block themed tools, and then share them with others. Roblox will come bundled with 15 new games made using its creation tools upon its Xbox One launch. It will be absolutely free to download. So you can get down to designing your own creations for absolutely free, and playing 15 other, rather good ones, for no cost at all.

Channel World: Microsoft quietly unwraps a big-data analytics platform based on R

Following its acquisition of Revolution Analytics last year by unwrapping an advanced-analytics platform of its own based on the open source R programming language. Dubbed Microsoft R Server, the platform works with Windows, Linux, Hadoop and Teradata software. It’s now available on the Microsoft Developer Network and via Microsoft’s DreamSpark educational program.

Gadgets 360: India open to pilot projects by Google, Microsoft – Ravi Shankar Prasad

Union Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad is open to allowing experiments by Google, Microsoft and others to address digital challenges of future. “Technology is overtaking us. Google wants to explore the Loon project and also, Microsoft is trying to explore white space. As a minister, I am very clear that all new technologies must be given proper opportunity for experimentation,” Prasad said at a National Seminar on Spectrum Management.

EFY Times: Microsoft’s plans for Digital India

Microsoft is hoping to bride the digital divide that India is currently facing via TV White Space technology. Microsoft is currently running a TV White Space Technology pilot programme with the Government of Andhra Pradesh. This will aim at bringing low-cost broadband Internet connection to four educational institutions in the Srikakulam district which had no connectivity earlier. The pilot programme reveals how technology can truly fill the digital gap that India faces at the time.

The Economic Times: Microsoft launches Surface Pro 3 & Surface Pro 4 in India

Microsoft’s Satya Nadella announced last month on his visit to India that their Surface line of personal computing devices will be launching in India soon. Keeping true to his word, Microsoft today launches both Surface Pro 3 and Surface Pro 4 in India. Microsoft only launched one version of the Surface Pro 3 and Surface Pro 4 in two categories – consumer and Business.